St. Jude Hospital Opening Delayed Again as Government Extends Full Commissioning Timeline

The government’s long-promised full commissioning of the new St. Jude Hospital has been pushed back once more, with Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste confirming that the facility will require several more weeks before becoming fully operational.

Speaking during Monday’s Pre-Cabinet Press Briefing, Jn Baptiste said the delay is necessary to allow engineers, healthcare professionals and commissioning teams to complete extensive technical testing, equipment verification and staff orientation before additional inpatient clinical services are opened.

“The commissioning team is spending time with the professionals to ensure that the critical building services, HVAC systems, medical gas services, equipment safety controls, ICT infrastructure, laboratory digital systems and radiology safety pathways are fully operational and safe before we proceed with full commissioning,” the minister explained.

Despite the latest setback, the transition into the new hospital continues. Jn Baptiste announced that, as of Tuesday, July 28, the Dialysis Department had successfully relocated from the George Odlum Stadium to the new facility, marking another milestone in the phased commissioning process. He thanked the commissioning team and hospital staff, noting that many employees sacrificed their weekend to facilitate the move.

Several essential services are already fully operational at the hospital, including physiotherapy, kitchen and food services, and laundry.

The minister also revealed that the hospital ultimately requires approximately 721 employees to operate at full capacity. Currently, 471 staff members are in place, with additional personnel expected to be deployed as the phased commissioning progresses.

While expressing confidence that the hospital will soon achieve full operational status and strengthen healthcare delivery in southern Saint Lucia, Jn Baptiste stopped short of announcing a revised completion date, leaving the public still waiting for a definitive timeline.

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