SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland – Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is asking for patience from the public and staff of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital which is a vital healthcare institution in this western parish.

The facility is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction following severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

Despite significant strides in rebuilding, the facility continues to grapple with substantial overcrowding, a high volume of social cases, and persistent staff shortages, as highlighted by Tufton during a tour of the facility on Friday.

“In all of this, what we are having is overcrowding and overflow because the demand on the system is high and the facilities are actively under construction. So, while the team is working hard to cope, we want to ask for some patience because it will take some time to get back up to where we want to be,” Tufton said.

The hospital, originally designed to accommodate 218 beds, is currently housing 298 patients when combining the main building and the field hospital. This significant overflow underscores the immense demand on the system and the limited capacity of the existing facilities.

The original Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, which bore the brunt of the hurricane’s fury, is undergoing urgent repairs. This includes comprehensive work on the roof to address leaks, cleaning of walls, and drying out and painting of partitions. Tufton is optimistic that this crucial section will be fully restored and operational within a week’s time. In the interim, a makeshift A&E facility has been established at the front of the hospital to ensure continuous service.

Adding to the temporary solutions, the field hospital which was provided by the Government of Barbados is presently operating at full capacity. It has been instrumental in managing the overflow of patients and alleviating pressure on the main hospital building. However, its tenure is temporary and it’s slated to be returned by the end of the month.

Further reconstruction efforts are focused on the former Covid-19 ward, which also functioned as an outpatient clinic and was destroyed by the hurricane. Contractors are now actively on-site, with construction having commenced. The goal is to complete this new outpatient facility by March, with the walls expected to be erected in the coming week.

The new outpatient facility, once completed, will initially comprise a single floor, with subsequent plans to add a new ward above it to further expand bed space. The long-term vision for the hospital is to increase its overall capacity to at least 300 beds,  a development Tufton described as “long overdue.”

A temporary tent at the front of the building is serving as the outpatient facility.

Meanwhile, a particularly pressing issue is the presence of 29 social cases who occupy over 10 per cent of the available beds. Tufton argued that these individuals, who ideally should not be in a hospital setting, present a “major, major challenge” not only for the hospital but for other healthcare facilities across the parish.

The minister emphasised that these extraordinary circumstances are a direct consequence of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that was unprecedented for the region. He urged the public to exercise patience, clarifying that while the situation presents significant hurdles, it is not being framed as a crisis. “We have challenges, and we have to work to overcome those challenges,” he said.

“Sometimes there are speculations and positions taken that give an impression that somehow, the team on the ground or the government is not doing enough. Under the circumstances, we are doing a lot,” the minister assured.

Future plans include a new A&E facility, costings for this project have been finalised, and it is expected to go to market soon, with construction slated to begin either this year or early in the next financial year.

In the meantime, staffing also remains another critical concern. The hospital faces a shortage of 36 doctors, spanning from basic practitioners to specialists. Despite ongoing recruitment drives, filling these positions has proven difficult. A review of nursing requirements has also been completed, indicating a clear need for additional nurses.