St Thomas Outpatient Clinic reopens after COVID-19 closure

The St Thomas Outpatient Clinic reopened on Wednesday after being closed for several years during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a boost for community-based health care in the parish.

The facility, refurbished at a cost of just over $3 million, is expected to reduce pressure on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital while improving access to medical services closer to home.

Former Minister of Health Jerome Walcott said the reopening forms part of a broader strategy to address Barbados’ growing non-communicable disease burden. He noted that the clinic will initially operate two days a week, with plans to expand to five days as staffing and demand increase.

Incumbent Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde said the return of outpatient services fits into a wider health vision for the constituency. She disclosed that the neighbouring, long-closed Gordon Cummins Hospital is slated to be refurbished and repurposed into a hospice facility to provide specialised long-term and palliative care.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the project reflects the Government’s push to decentralise health care, allowing Barbadians to access essential services within their communities rather than relying solely on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.