Health Minister Nicholas Steels says Phase Two of the General Hospital is almost complete.

Addressing members of the media on Tuesday April 17th, at the Government’s first Post Cabinet Briefing  since re-elected into office following the March 13th General Election, Minister Steele who was returned the health portfolio, said that his focus is now on purchasing equipment for the facility.

He also said that an additional wing was added to the phase two facility earmarked to be an orthopedic and surgical wing.

“The focus is on getting the equipment here in a timely manner within a limited budget that we do have and also the relevant staffing for that building which is accident and emergency, labs and teaching on the third floor, the highest floor as well as imagery on the lowest floor, and now to look at increased theatre capacity and orthopedic wing at that facility,” minister Steele said.

Once labelled the steel structure for obvious reasons, the facility which began in 2006 stalled in 2008.

One of the problems with the then structure was the closeness in height per floor.

As a result, it was dismantled and the reconstruction process recommenced in 2014.

The need for addition medical facilities is further highlighted with the consistent overcrowding at the country’s lone mental institution at Mt Gay.

Minister Steele says that staff and residents will continue to see overcrowding at that institution until work on phase two of the hospital project is complete and construction of Rathdune at the General Hospital is done.

Minister Steele told the media, “That is why I’m pushing ahead with phase two of the hospital that will allow us to immediately start the rebuilding of Rathdune. We’ve already started the consultation and design process for that, so that immediately, that’s my expectation and desire; that as we evacuate or move from the existing casualty facility into phase two building that we can start the construction of Rathdune.”

For years governments have promised focus on ensuring a permanent facility to cater to people with mental health issues without fulfilling those promises. Minister Steele agrees that Rathdune facility is long overdue from 2008 nothing was done.

“We know that we were also slow in starting the phase two but absolutely nothing was done, so we have addressed that problem, we’re moving into the phase two in order to have Rathdune go back to its original home which will then begin to really and truly address the issue of overcrowding in our mental health facility at Mt Gay,” Minister Steele said.

Phase two of the General Hospital is financed by the Bolivarian Government of Venezuela.

According to a report from Works Minister Gregory Bowen in 2014, component one of phase 2 will cost US250, 000.00 – while component 2 will cost US1.03M.

A date for completion of the phase two of the general hospital has not been given.

Meanwhile Government is seeking to strengthen its existing relationship with the Government and people of Cuba. The two countries on Saturday April 14th celebrated 39th years of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Minister Steele who is also responsible for International Business, said that he‘s in discussion with the Cuban government and plans to meet with the Cuban Health Minister in Cuba next week(Week of April 22nd to the 28th) to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries  with emphasis on the area of health care for further technical assistance.

Minister Steels told the media, “Of the various areas that exists now is the cooperation with the Cuban contingency that is here (in Grenada)of medical doctors as well as the most generous offers that we have from Cuba being able to send Grenadians with emergency medical issues to Cuba”.