NASSAU, Bahamas — According to Eyewitness News, the Bahamian government and the Beck Group recently agreed to a $90 million deal to improve public hospitals. The deal includes infrastructure and technology at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau and Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahamas. During the agreement celebration, Health Minister Renward Wells said that the Beck Group has a “solid track record” with the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) in improving government clinics in the country. The Borgen Project spoke with two people at Princess Margaret Hospital to see how this deal is working.
The Beck Group’s Background
The Beck Group’s website states that the company is the leader in “the design and building industry” innovative technology. The firm’s technological capabilities enable it to provide better data, improve risk reduction, enhance equipment and lower costs for building projects. The Beck Group uses 3D modeling in its designs.
Fred Perpall, CEO of the Beck Group, states on the webpage, “We believe that great design and great construction go together.” According to the Tribune, the company’s president said that it was a pleasure to sign the $90 million deal to enhance public hospitals because it helps develop the country. He also said that rebuilding the hospitals from his hometown means a lot to him as it can benefit those dearest to him.
PMH and Rand Memorial Hospital Expansion Details
Princess Margaret Hospital will get an innovative 96,000 square-foot tower with six stories. The building will include a newly designed maternal and child health section. The Rand Memorial Hospital updates include a brand-new four-story building dedicated to obstetrics and gynecology.
When signing this $90 million deal to enhance public hospitals, the health minister projected the expense of this new building at PMH to be $55 million. This would include the building material and furnishings for the hospital. The expansion at Rand Memorial Hospital will cost $30.6 million.
In addition, the Beck Group states that PMH has already spent $40 million out of the $90 million by expanding “a new critical healthcare tower.” This includes an increase in beds for adults and children. Also, it will add six surgery rooms, 21 rooms in the ICU, more laboratories and a sterilization section. As a result, doctors and nurses can serve patients faster and operations and problem-solving will become more efficient. The Borgen Project interviewed Nicee Edwards and Linda Adderley about the projects.
Nicee Edwards: Nurse Educator at PMH
According to Edwards, the facilities have much deterioration, so the new $90 million deal to enhance public hospitals will improve the quality of care. In addition, it will change the mindset of the staff because the new equipment will make people more motivated to work. Whereas before, some of the nurses and doctors were despondent. Now, the staff is under training in customer service and emergency skills to upgrade their capabilities in all areas.
Edwards also said that this expansion was definitely necessary. The new rooms will add more bed space to serve more customers. “It’s been a long-time coming!” She also added that the government plans to upgrade two other hospitals in Nassau, Bahamas, including the South Beach Clinic and the Elizabeth Estate Clinic. Staff at these hospitals are also receiving training.
Linda Adderley: Human Resources Specialist at PMH
Historically, Princess Margaret Hospital is famous for long wait times and delays in caring for patients. Expanding the hospital would allow a first-world type of service to Bahamians. Areas such as the accident and emergency department, the children’s healthcare department and especially the public ward need improvements. The last time the wards received renovations was in the 1980s. Therefore, the expansion should reduce wait times and improve diagnostic time. Adderley said, “For example, if the CT machine is down, you aren’t able to get your scan and would possibly have to live with a condition for longer than if you had gotten your scan on time.”
Adderley also explained that it would be reasonable to expect that the expansion of the facilities would create more jobs as the hospital would need additional staff to fill those vacancies. She also added that updating the hospital would eliminate problems such as having no hospital beds on the wards for patients admitted, who have to wait around in the Accident and Emergency department until a bed is available.
Projected Finish for Hospitals Expansion
According to Eyewitness News, the Beck Group aims to complete this expansion within 2.5 years. This $90 million deal to enhance public hospitals will improve healthcare and generate many new jobs for Bahamians. The Beck Group’s CEO noted that updating the Rand Memorial hospital would provide 250-300 new manual labor occupancies. He estimates that the PMH’s expansion will require up to 600 new assembly workers.
–Jannique McDonald
Photo: Unsplash