Diamond hospital to be closed for 6 weeks for “SMART” upgrade

The Diamond Diagnostic Centre, the main provider of healthcare for those living along the East Bank of Demerara, will be closed for six weeks, from September 1 to October 16, 2020, to facilitate the construction of a SMART Hospital.
This is according to a notice published in the daily newspapers.
As a result, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) will handle all emergencies. The regional hospital was identified as a COVID-19 quarantine facility but Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony has since confirmed that persons in quarantine at that facility will remain there.
When contacted on Sunday, Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr Fawcett Jeffrey said he does not believe that the additional patients coming from Diamond Diagnostic Centre will be a real burden on the GPHC, even though the hospital has limited accommodation due to the COVID-19 situation.
“We would have to compress wards to cater for more patients, but once we can free up some more space, with the use of [Infectious Diseases Hospital], I do not think it will be a real burden on GPHC.”

Dr Jeffery related that while it would be additional work for that hospital’s staff, they are ready and capable of managing.
He noted that sacrifices have to be made, and if that includes the temporary closure of the hospital for upgrades that will better the quality of medical attention offered to citizens in the future, then he is in support of it.
In January 2018, the Public Health Ministry unveiled a billboard at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre as part of the Smart Healthcare Initiative to provide upgraded and environmentally friendly services. The centre on the East Bank of Demerara was identified as one of the five health facilities to be upgraded.
The other facilities identified are Mabaruma and Lethem Regional Hospitals, Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, and the Paramakatoi Health Centre.
The works are projected to cost US$950,000 at Leonora, US$910,000 at Lethem, US$837,000 at Mabaruma, US$515,000 at Paramakatoi and US$920,000 at Diamond.  The United Kingdom-funded project is designed to help reduce mortality, morbidity and economic losses from natural disasters, to which many Caribbean nations are vulnerable.
The “SMART Hospital” concept refers to a health facility which is both safe and utilises green technology.
Hospitals and other health facilities embracing this concept must provide standard and efficient healthcare before, during, and even immediately after the event of any natural or man-made disaster.