Darroux speaks of advantage of building new hospital on current PMH site

Artiste’s rendition of a section of the new hospital

Health Minister, Kenneth Darroux has stated that the construction of the new China-funded hospital on the existing site of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is a technical advantage.

In a statement made last week, he explained that because the project is to be executed in phases, each department is expected to be operational before a new phase begins. This, Darroux said, ensures that the new hospital will be fully functional upon completion.

The project will be undertaken in seven phases, and is expected to be completed within a period of thirty months.

“One of the advantages of building on the existing site is that at the end of the construction period, we are guaranteed to have a fully functional hospital… because at each phase, whatever department or service is going to be put into the construction site, they have to ensure that it is fully functional before they move it… as opposed to building on a new site, where sometimes after the building is completed—sometimes years pass, and we have to do a little this here. So, we have to ensure that each phase is complete before we move onto the next phase,” he claimed. “So, in two and half years, we’ll have a fully-functional hospital.”

The $40-million facility, funded by the government and the People’s Republic of China, will include 16,500 square meters of new construction, 4,160 square meters of general repairs to existing buildings which will not be demolished, 400 meters of roof guttering, and a total number of 372 beds, as opposed to the current 230 beds.

Construction of the new hospital began at the end of October 2016.

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28 Comments

  1. Advice to Dr. Skerrit for 2017
    December 23, 2016

    Ross University is a medical school. So what better place to have a new hospital than on its site. I recommend that that this is discussed with Ross who I am sure will be very keen to move on that.

  2. Jon Jones
    December 20, 2016

    The statement is nonsense as you can build on a new site without any disruption. It would be clear. Building in stages on the same site while services sre in operation cannot happen with disruption so it is misleading.

    In reality the opportunity to expand better quality healthcare on the island has been missed for economic reasons. Probably that they will be no additional costs to support and staff a new site, which is a short term view that squanders the potential gains that a new development infrastructure could bring a better distribution of services and resources to the people of Dominica.

    Common sense will prevail one day…

  3. New one
    December 20, 2016

    Garcion, build a new hospital from scratch.
    Simple as that .
    A new location in salsbury on the coast would be good.

  4. viewsexpressed
    December 20, 2016

    Renovation…renovation…Hospital Renovation…..We were promised a brand new hospital etc etc etc….only if who told us so did not understand Chinese when the project was being discussed in mainland China.

  5. miss lady..
    December 19, 2016

    Seriously some people don’t read to understand. What he s basically saying is that when its finished it will be fully functional. Meaning that operations will not be halted to move to new location. As he clearly states it is being done by phases. One section after another will be demolished and rebuilt causing only temporary shifting. Soooo.. by the time the project is finished.. everybody would have been where they are supposed to be. its that simple!!

    • The S7 - i will blow up in your face
      December 20, 2016

      Meanwhile, God forbid thaat you miss lady end up there for a serious issue and just and flying cement end up in your ward that is not closed off from the elements. Not to mention the noise in the area. IT would be that simple for true.

    • viewsexpressed
      December 20, 2016

      You are saying this to say what… Excuses….excuses…excuses….

    • Jon Jones
      December 20, 2016

      miss lady..

      No one moves midway through an operation. They are scheduled in advance. In fact it would make no real difference if this week your favourite dentist moved from Roseau to Portsmouth tomorrow as long as he had his kit in order.

      But on the other hand it could if this brand new hospital (on the same site) has to use the same equipment then maybe there just might well be an issue. If if (God forbid) there is a serious accident at the site it could be the same. When you develop alternate facilities (as would a progressive administration) these factors would be mitigated.

      Maybe by now you realise that two hospitals mean more infrastructure, equipment, beds, staff, support services, etc and this is the key part where transparency is short.

      So, the boast of a new hospital makes headlines and sounds great but the devil is in the detail.

  6. Architect
    December 19, 2016

    It’s a known fact in the construction industry that it’s cheaper and easier to build something totally new as to repairing and extension which is what this hospital project is, a renovation, there’s more value in finding a new site and allowing for another area to develop plus adding capacity to what already exist. We live in a country where land is plentiful so why force the point?

  7. john doe
    December 19, 2016

    for a formally educated man he lacks a lot of common sense. garcon only under the dlp cabal projects are paid for in full however they are always incomplete. in every civilized country contractors are held accountable. only im this country man doing wat they want on tax payers money!

  8. The Truth Be Told
    December 19, 2016

    Minister Darroux simply gave D/cans an update on how the new hospital will progress in phases and the organized move by sections.
    We previously knew there was sufficient space in that area to build the new hospital. Therefore, it was decided the hospital would be built in the vicinity of the soon-to-be old one. :)
    We could also say the other advantage is, it is located in the same area of Goodwill, is central that, nationals who reside in close proximity are elated that the new hospital is in that area. Being very familiar with Goodwill, I am also elated. :)
    This means, the new hospital will not be in a strange surrounding which could also be an inconvenience for everyone who would utilize it, be it for work, as patients and visitors.
    All national should eagerly look forward to its completion.
    That is the best I could do for now. :lol:
    You critics and non-critics, what is your take on it? An open invitation. :lol:

    • viewsexpressed
      December 20, 2016

      You are saying this to say what… Excuses….excuses…excuses….What on earth re you talking about? trying to justify incompetence….?

  9. %
    December 19, 2016

    Of late you seem to be the one BATTING for Skerrit,but you are exposing yourself for what you are….!!!Your explanation is rudimentary,pathetic,myopic and borders on puffery…The thing is this DLP of which you are steeped in, lacks people with foresight,people who are planners,people who are lovers of country…I will go with the experts who have told us ad nauseam that the Roseau area and the south by extension is highly prone to natural phenomena….We are sitting on almost TEN live volcanoes…Most of them are concentrated in the south…Didn’t you know that Darroux?.This site for the new hospital is a terrible one,and it once again exposes this evil DLP for consisting of a gang of clowns and no brainers.

    • Truth Be Told
      December 20, 2016

      But this site was there prior to many who were not yet born at that time and thereafter.
      First the hospital was in Roseau. When the government purchased land at Goodwill, the new hospital was built and called Princess Margaret Hospital. No one complained about it then. So what is your problem? What is wrong with you?

  10. viewsexpressed
    December 19, 2016

    “…………………….guaranteed to have a fully functional hospital…….” Darroux, what on earth does this mean. Please clarify, quantify this nonsense. Is it just concrete and steel? I guess patients (Including Ayatollah President) will still be flown over to Martinique
    Thirty months….?, In other words almost 3 years. well…well…well….

  11. Music Producer
    December 19, 2016

    8-O :roll: :roll: :roll: I’m at lost for words right now!

    • The Truth Be Told
      December 19, 2016

      You are “lost” alright. Try finding your way back from “lost” to ” at a loss.” :lol: :lol: :lol: .

  12. December 19, 2016

    that is understood but do we have to use the patients, sick people as collateral damage ?

  13. December 19, 2016

    I give Skerrit and his gang an H-

  14. Doc. Love
    December 19, 2016

    I am very confused, according to DNO, Darroux speaks of advantage of building new hospital on current PMH site. According to Hon Darroux, ” 4460 square meters of general repairs to existing building which will not be demolished.” DNO reports, construction of the new hospital began at the end of October, 2016. According to Blessings, the Government did not say it was building a BRAND new hospital, what it said was that it was building a new hospital.

  15. Lapawol
    December 19, 2016

    2.5 years.. and the language of the election will be if workers come into power the the project will stop… ahh.. its about to start. what you said is so true mr minister. but dont drag this project into election turmoil… im sure linton wont

  16. zandoli
    December 19, 2016

    DNO can you post photos of the hospital as the construction progresses?

  17. Shaka Zulu
    December 19, 2016

    Based on the government record I am willing to be publicly executed with the entire population watching if this project starts and is fully completed within a period of 30 months
    “One of the advantages of building on the existing site is that at the end of the construction period, we are guaranteed to have a fully functional hospital” so is Mr. Darroux telling us this is a joke. Anywhere else and it may not finish? Where do these guys really come from? Are Dominicans that commonsense deffecient? DNO tell me this is not the only advantage cited. $40 million and the explanations above sounds like this is a repair and addition to existing hospital and not new. Equipment will be same. This administration have a record of deception. For those who think I am negative, check out coffee plant, hotels in Possi and elsewhere, abbatoir the list goes on..

  18. anonymous2
    December 19, 2016

    Who knows if and when it will ever be completed.

  19. The Thinker
    December 19, 2016

    Are they running out of things to say?.This should have all been taken into consideration prior to any building work being stated.Just get on with the project and tell us when it’s finished

  20. Genius
    December 19, 2016

    The real reason is that Skerrit never bargained for a new hospital as he claimed. He fooled us to win the election. So now allu doing renovations because the people want to see something. :mrgreen:

    • The Truth Be Told
      December 19, 2016

      I suppose you can read his mind. You must be inside his mind to know that or you must be a fortune teller to be so certain..

      • viewsexpressed
        December 20, 2016

        No Truth, political ignorance and lies and devious is bliss within this corruptible within party government.

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