Patient intake capacity to be increased at KPH

Work has started to increase the bed capacity at Jamaica's Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Twenty-eight beds will be added.

In a statement on Monday morning, Dr. Andrei Cooke, Chairman of  the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), said a contract had been signed for the renovation of the William Ward at KPH. The contract is valued at J$22.9 million.

Dr. Cooke said the William Ward is being converted back to a patient ward, after it was previously used as the consultants' lounge for teaching purposes, as well as offices for doctors.

He explained that the the renovated space will become a male ward for internal medicine, providing care for patients with chronic non-communicable diseases. It will also accommodate the hospital’s cardiology unit. 

The renovation project is expected to last eight months and is being financed by the National Health Fund.      

Nearly 30,000 patients are admitted to KPH annually.