The second phase of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion Project should be completed within the next eight months.
Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic today revealed that the project had been delayed by almost two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the expected cost had also increased from $11 million to $13.5 million as a result of that delay.
However, Bostic said it was on track to be completed by February.
“Like everything else COVID-19 impacted on the progress of work here on the site. I believe it took about seven weeks away from the plans we had in terms of time. We had to delay. We had to stop because obviously all of us had to take care of the impact and the response of COVID-19, so I am glad it has restarted and I am happy at what I am seeing here this morning.
“I think it is something that Barbadians are going to be exceedingly excited and proud about,” Bostic maintained.
“The estimated cost at this time based on all phases that we are trying to do here, because some additional things have gone into it, could be in the region of $13.5 million or so at this time, but the initial plans and certainly phase two which will see a structure up and open sometime in February, that will fall within the current budget. So we are looking definitely to have the new structure up and running by mid-February or so and then we will look at the other phase.”
Work on the project commenced on March 9, 2020, and entails three phases which were expected to be completed in 14 months.
Phase one will entail enclosing the project site; the construction of an access road, sewerage, drainage and car park works.
Phase two will consist of the construction of a new 9 000 square foot single-storey reinforced concrete building to the north of the existing A&E.
The new building will feature a three-vehicle ambulance bay on the building’s eastern side; and to facilitate future development of the space, provision will be made to extend upward to another three storeys.
The final phase of the project, entails the reconfiguration and renovation of the present A&E to better align with the current and projected needs of the department.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
