ST JAMES, Jamaica — The long-awaited operating theatre that was promised for the Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover is one step closer to becoming a reality.

“This Saturday we are going to tender for what you just asked about, the operating theatre,” Regional Director for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), St Andrade Sinclair said Thursday.

He was responding to queries from the Jamaica Observer during a press conference held at the S Hotel in Montego Bay.

The query was for an update on plans to install a theatre at the more than 125-year-old institution.

The original theatre, which is currently in a state of disrepair, was taken out of service approximately 30 years ago. Since then, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and other officials have mentioned plans to construct a new theatre that has been on the books for more than a decade.

On Thursday, the minister  noted that while a minor operating theatre was implemented, the current plan is to construct one that is much more advanced.

Tufton said the Government is willing to provide funding for the project that will hopefully get off the ground in 2016.

He also spoke about development plans for Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland.

The minister pointed to the planned buildout of a new accident and emergency (A&E) department that will assist with alleviating overcrowding and space limitations.

That $1-billion initiative, which was previously unveiled in July, will be carried out over three phases.

“I’m happy to announce that we will be tackling the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital challenge, starting with A&E, which will have a diagnostic area, a lab, more space, and then the A&E area on the old building will provide more opportunity for a few additional bed spaces. And then we’ll build out from there,” stated Tufton.

A non-functioning sewage system that was put in place in 2016 is to be addressed. Tufton said the procurement for the system is in the making.

“You may recall that that sewage system was put in just prior to my becoming minister, and I don’t think it has worked [for] one month. The contractor and the arrangements, which were before me — I inherited it — seem to have been a non-starter. And in a sense, one could argue [it was] a waste of money,” argued Tufton.

The minister said efforts are under way to identify a new contractor that has the requisite technology.

“Nevertheless, we have had to re-engage the process using appropriate engineers. And we are now in the process of finding a new contractor with the appropriate technology to make the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital sewage system functional,” stated Tufton.

The minister said he was told that the bid documents are out.

“They’re likely to be considered starting in a week or two, and hopefully we’ll have an appropriate provider of that service before the end of this year,” he noted.