​Social patients to be moved from Spanish Town Hospital

​Ruddy Mathison, Gleaner Writer

The Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund have donated a total of $5.1 million to help the St Catherine Municipal Corporation provide alternative accommodation for 26 social cases at the Spanish Town Hospital.

The donations come amid efforts by the government to free-up bed spaces in public hospitals islandwide that are occupied by social cases.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says this initiative is part of a wider policy framework to support people who are rendered homeless as a result of mental health and other chronic illnesses and who have been rejected by family members.

The St Catherine Municipal Corporation says the funds will go towards the construction of a building on the grounds of the Spanish Town Infirmary to house social cases.

Chairman of the corporation Norman Scott says an estimate done last year indicated that the project could cost close to $7 million and is expected to be completed next January.