As the Bayview Urgent Care facility officially opened on Wednesday, pledging round-the-clock medical care by August 1, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley described the development as a critical step forward in the country’s evolving healthcare landscape.
She told the gathering at the opening ceremony that the project is not just a private milestone, but part of the government’s wider commitment to strengthening public-private healthcare partnerships.
“We were very clear when we came to office… that Barbados’ strength comes from the public-private approach to the delivery of healthcare,” she said.
Mottley also revealed that tax concessions granted to Bayview Hospital for the development of the facility are directly tied to the provision of services that benefit public patients, a formal condition negotiated with the Ministry of Finance.
“Even though this is a privately owned facility, we have made it clear that tax concessions provided by the government must redound to the benefit of public patients as well,” she said. “I want to urge the completion of the public-private partnership… so that the country and the patients benefit from us working together.”
Chairman of Bayview Hospital Peter Harris said the urgent care centre was not only a boost to healthcare access but a statement of national pride.
“Today marks more than just the opening of a new building; it represents the realisation of our goal to build a healthier Barbados through local expertise,” Harris said.
He underscored that the expansion addresses the urgent need for “private emergency healthcare on the island with all services under one roof.”
Hospital Administrator Jules Reid, reflecting on the three-year journey to completion, said the project took shape during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period she said only deepened the hospital’s resolve.
“Nearly three years ago, we stood together on this very ground with shovels in hand and a vision in our hearts. Today, that vision stands before us, complete and ready to serve. Bayview Hospital Urgent Care Centre is no longer a promise; it is our reality,” Reid said.
“The challenges we faced during the COVID-19 pandemic only strengthened our resolve and clarified our mission. Our frontline staff and our doctors… proved that Bayview Hospital is more than a medical facility. We are a cornerstone of this community, built by Barbadians, for Barbadians, and for all who call our beautiful island home, even temporarily.”
The facility, which officially opens to walk-in patients on Thursday, will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the remainder of June, extend to midnight in July, and move to full 24/7 operations from August 1.
Described by hospital officials as offering “a full circle of care under one roof,” Bayview Urgent Care brings together emergency physicians, nurses, a fully equipped asthma bay, radiology and lab services, and on-site access to specialist hospital admissions.
Sister companies Diagnostic Radiology and Bayview Laboratory have moved their operations into the new facility.
A new CT scanner and 3D mammography unit enhance diagnostic capabilities, while emergency imaging services, including X-rays and ultrasounds, will return results within 24 hours.
Laboratory services include STI and HPV testing, dengue detection, and executive health screenings.
Bayview also announced a partnership with CariGenetics, offering cutting-edge genetic testing for paternity, cancer risk, kidney disease, and mental health-related drug profiling.
To remove access barriers, the hospital has introduced an emergency ambulance and a non-emergency shuttle service for elderly and mobility-impaired patients.
Bayview officials further revealed plans to invest further in oncology and chronic kidney disease treatment, two areas where Barbados continues to face critical service gaps.
“Today, we don’t just open a building. We open a new chapter in Barbadian healthcare. Bayview is modern, efficient, and proudly Barbadian,” Reid said. (SM)
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