Linden Hospital upgraded, elevator to be refurbished

The Linden Hospital Complex was originally constructed to carry two elevators but only one was installed. Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Cabinet has approved million for rehabilitative works to the one elevator that was installed.
Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital, Dr Mohamed F Riyasat, said that upon the commemoration of the Hospital in 2009, only one elevator was installed.
Dr Kay Shako, Director of Regional Health Services, noted that despite regular servicing and maintenance, the elevator would periodically malfunction, causing inconveniences to porters transporting persons admitted to the wards on the second floor; pregnant women who were forced to use the stairs to get to the Maternity Ward; meals would have to be carried to wards on the second level and the deceased carried physically to the lower floor via the stairs.

Under the Public Infrastructure Ministry, the sum of $25 million was allocated in the 2017 Budget for rehabilitative works – $18 million for the elevator and $7 million for housing. The Department of Public Information stated that the contract for the rehabilitative works on the elevator was awarded to K P Thomas and Sons Contracting.
It said the project to purchase, install and construct housing was tendered under the Public Infrastructure Ministry but the contract has not been awarded to date.
In late 2016, works began on the old Linden Hospital Complex building. It was refurbished to facilitate consultation rooms, a 10-bed surgical ward, a patients’ waiting room and a canteen, at an estimated cost of $20 million.