Thursday March 6, 2008, St. George’s: Patients at the Princess Alice Hospital at Mirabeau in St. Andrew’s this morning told this country’s Minister for Health, Sen. the Hon. Ann David-Antoine, that the level of healthcare provided at the Princess Alice Hospital has definitely improved. The Minster herself was elated to hear such positive remarks coming from patients who were visiting loved ones as well as those awaiting medical attention. 

There were statements like, “I have known this facility for several years and I must admit that a lot of work has been done to ensure that the people like me (patients), their family, friends and staff are very comfortable”, “We must be grateful to the Government for taking care of our needs, I see plenty of work going on and when I come here I’m relaxed”, “The Government promised and they deliver on their promise and I am very happy. Right now I am visiting my daughter and she is being well taken care of, and the facility is nice I see work has been done and work is taking place on the other section right now, so that it good for our community and our country” were just some of the expressions of patients.

The Minister was at the time accompanied by the Deputy Director of Hospital Services Mrs. Esther Henry-Fleary (MBE) and Matron Jeanette Joseph who supervises the operations at the facility.

The Minister was also told by patients and staff at the facility that they are looking forward to the day when more diagnostic services such as Radiology, (X-Ray) and Ophthalmology (Eye screening) will be brought to the Princess Alice Hospital.

She assured them that they are not left out and that such services will be brought to the facility since a number of equipment was obtained and others being sought to be installed at the facility.

During the visit which lasted for more than an hour, the island’s Health Minister spoke with some of the workmen of the local construction company Joseph and Joseph, who assured the Minister that refurbishment exercise is going according to plan.

The first phase of the Princess Alice Hospital was constructed at a cost of about one million EC and the second phase which is due in August of this year, is valued at EC1.7 million dollars.