Boyce: David Thompson complex seeing high numbers of patients

Minister of Health John Boyce yesterday sought the approval of the Lower House on a supplementary of $1.8 million to make the final payment for the construction of the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex in St. John.

“The last time we came here it was clearly pointed out when I spoke that the submission to the Ministry of Finance was for $4.3 million, but that the ministry could only guarantee $2.5 million for payment of the project, so obviously, and I would have said this too, we would have had to come back to the Chamber for the remainder and that is exactly what we are doing today,” he outlined.

Outlining the various services of the facility, he noted that the complex has already been seeing high numbers of persons seeking health care.

“For the month of September, the St. John polyclinic would have seen something like 1 100 patients. It vacillates in that region and this is even in an arrangement where we have not in the Ministry firmly addressed the question of catchment areas … to refer to the geographic locations associated with the polyclinics,” he highlighted.

“What is in place is that persons from St. John would attend the David Thompson Health and Social Services Centre as well as some persons who now attend the Glebe and St. Philip polyclinics and that was the thinking when the project would have been designed some years ago … in 1989,” he continued.

Boyce also used the opportunity to extend congratulations to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St. John, on her recent promotion at the PAHO/WHO as the Assistant Director General, with responsibilities in the area of climate and determinants of health. (JMB)