Glendon Hospital
After a period of quiet, disappointment, excitement and perhaps a little jealousy for some, the latest news is that a new ‘hospital site’ has emerged and is actually being referred to as the ‘preferred site even it is only by the experts.
A report says that “the Ministry of Health and Social Services gives the St. Peter’s site the number one ranking,” and “gives the St. Peter’s site the number one ranking.” The report further says that the present site of the hospital in St John’s comes in a close second followed by sites in Brades and Geralds and two sites in Little Bay.
Senior economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Kenya Lee ansewers questions as to how the sites were decided. He explains that a cost benefit analysis was used to determine the ranking. “The standard practice in a preview like this to quantify the costs that can be quantified but there are some costs or certain benefits that can’t be quantified,” he said.
He said that in this regard you would monetize the cost and you would apply a ranking or a waiting to the benefits because we’re looking at a hospital site. “You have to look at beyond; most people will think it is a financial matter but a cost benefit analysis takes into account the impact on the wider Montserrat society or the wider Montserrat economy,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Terron Gilchrist who is the Director of Hospital Services, addressing the site location issue says there are several concerns about building the new health facility at the current location, citing, “One of the weakness of the existing site is the issue of scope for future development and there is a major concern which has to do with the issue of constructing on the site.”
Health Services Director Gilchrist had reported earlier, “We are awaiting a report from PAHO, WHO with an independent assessment of the economic appraisal. At the end of all this we will then compile the findings and make a final presentation to the cabinet of Montserrat for a decision.”
