HSA cuts ribbon on Smith Road Medical Centre

By Christopher Tobutt

Hon Sabrina Turner, Minister for Health & Wellness joined senior HSA staff and Board Members in cutting the ribbon to a large suite of purpose-built rooms at the Smith Road Medical Center, intended to compliment will include a general practice clinic, a large pharmacy, and a phlebotomy department. The HSA began its phased acquisition of the building in 2018, and now owns approximately 80% of the 45,000-square-foot building, with a view to owning it all, sometime in the future. There will be a shuttle-service to help transport patients between the main hospital and the new facility.

HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood remarked, “This investment will more than double our capacity for serving patients by allowing the transition of most outpatient services from the main Cayman Islands Hospital campus to this location. This will provide greater patient convenience through access to a wider range of specialists, primary healthcare, behavioral health services, and pharmacy. It has also given us the ability to introduce new services including complimentary alternative medicine, sports medicine and chiropractic services.

“This shift from a hospital-centric model is in keeping with our 30-year master facility plan to help expand service, reduce wait times, and improve the overall patient experience. This is also in keeping with our mission statement, ‘to provide highest quality healthcare through accessible, sustainable, patient-focussed services.’”

HSA Board Chairman, Osbourne Bodden said, “The covid 19 pandemic has surpassed any healthcare crisis we have ever witnessed. It has been unprecedented especially for the healthcare sector, testing their ability to deliver quality and compassionate care. Yet, due to remarkable vision, strategic planning and foresight, our clinicians and healthcare administrative teams were able to remain focused on the growth and advancement of the H.S.A and the services for the benefit of the Caymanian public. The investment in the Smith Road Centre has allowed us to expand our services substantially and create a more comfortable environment for both patient and staff.”

Mr Bodden went on to explain that of the main benefits of the new facility is the ability that patients will have to seek the care they need, right here in Cayman and still be around their friends and family, without facing the trauma of having to seek medical treatment overseas.

Hon. Sabrina Turner, Minister of Health & Wellness said, “It is indeed an honour to be with you, and witness proof of growth, maturity, and stepping up to the needs of the country, and as the minister for Health & Wellness, being in this position at a national level, we will grow with you. We will also give you your support. I am quite sure that for years to come we will see more improvements.”

When showing guests around the big new pharmacy, HSA chief pharmacist Colin Medford explained that the pharmacy had been ergonomically-designed, and anticipated that waiting times would be nearly cut in half by the new facility, which also possessed extra layers of soundproofing in the consulting room, to protect patients’ privacy.