Opposition calls for transparency on halted Bustamante Hospital rehabilitation project
Paul Henry / Our Today
administratorOpposition Spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Dawes has called on the health minister and the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) to clarify the status of a significant rehabilitation project intended for the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC).
This project, centred on restoring four essential operating theatres at BHC, was reportedly initiated with a submission to the CHASE Fund in 2022.
In a statement to the media, Dr Dawes posed the following questions to the minister and SERHA:
- Can the minister confirm or deny that in 2023, following the initial submission, a specific request was made to BHC for a detailed line-item budget, as required by the CHASE Fund, to advance the project?
- Was a verbal commitment made by a CHASE Fund representative to approve the project following a site inspection? If so, can the minister confirm whether official correspondence subsequently conveyed CHASE’s willingness to fund the rehabilitation, contingent upon SERHA’s approval and oversight?
- If these reports are accurate, on what grounds was the project abandoned?
Dr Dawes said the decision to halt this initiative has led to the non-functionality of these vital operating theatres, causing the cancellation of critical medical missions and disrupting essential care for children in need.
He urged the minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, to reflect on this decision, particularly given the current strain on the health system. “Was due consideration given to the potential repercussions for patient care? With the operating theatres now non-functional, are there any regrets that this rehabilitation project was not pursued to completion?”
“The Opposition calls for prompt, transparent responses from the minister and SERHA to address these pressing concerns and provide clarity on the future of healthcare at Bustamante Hospital for Children,” Dr Dawes said.
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