The St Vincent government on Friday confirm that they would proceed with the eventual closure of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH). This decision is based on several key factors and administrative goals.
Minister of Health Daniel Cummings noted that numerous reports have long recommended the closure of MCMH. The primary reasons cited for moving away from the facility include: Environmental and Safety Concerns, Substandard Facilities and Administrative Efficiency.
Officials say the current site is plagued by flooding issues and is located near a gas station. Prime Minister Godwin Friday described the existing maternity and paediatric services at MCMH as “substandard” and “woefully inadequate,” stating they simply do not meet modern healthcare needs.
Maintaining multiple hospitals (six in total for a small population) creates “astronomical” administrative costs, Health Minister noted. The government believes it is far more efficient to centralise services within the new facility at Arnos Vale rather than operating a separate hospital at the Milton Cato site.
Originally, it was recommended that the paediatric and maternity wards remain at MCMH, but the government has decided to incorporate these wings into the new modern hospital at Arnos Vale.
The Arnos Vale facility will now house these critical units, including segments dedicated to the World Pediatric Project.
This addition will require additional funding beyond the $125 million USD already budgeted for the Arnos Vale project. However, the Health Minister stated that adding these units will not impede the construction of the portions already approved, as the new wing will be added to the existing compound layout.
The government is also considering the possibility of the new Arnos Vale site serving as a teaching hospital.
While MCMH will cease to function as a primary hospital, the building itself may still serve a purpose. The Minister of Health indicated that the specific future use of the Milton Cato facility will be “looked at subsequently” once the transition to Arnos Vale is complete.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister emphasised that making this move now, despite the additional costs, is better than waiting, as the long-term operational efficiencies and improved care for mothers and children will provide an overall beneficial effect for the country.