Health Minister Announces Arrival of 120 Nurses, Emergency Department Overhaul Under Review

Health Minister Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph has announced that 120 nurses are expected to arrive in Antigua and Barbuda in the coming weeks, a significant boost to staffing levels across the public healthcare system.

The minister disclosed during the Governor General’s annual visit to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre on Tuesday, where he addressed ongoing pressures facing the hospital’s emergency department.

Sir Molwyn acknowledged that the emergency room’s current layout and capacity are no longer sufficient to meet demand, and that discussions will be held shortly on how best to resolve the issue. He noted that patient volumes have increased significantly, placing sustained strain on existing facilities and staff.

According to the minister, approximately 25,000 patients accessed care through the emergency department this year, averaging more than 2,000 per month. He emphasized that the department’s physical size was never designed to accommodate such numbers.

“The size of the emergency department cannot accommodate this volume,” Sir Molwyn said. “There has to be another policy carved out between the ministry and the hospital to fix this problem.”

He explained that the solution will not be limited to infrastructure alone, but will involve broader policy discussions between the Ministry of Health and hospital administrators. These consultations will focus on improving patient flow, expanding capacity where possible, and ensuring adequate staffing levels to meet growing healthcare demands.

The arrival of additional nurses is expected to be a key part of this strategy, helping to ease pressure on frontline medical staff while improving patient care and response times in the emergency department.

Sir Molwyn, who has responsibility for health, said further consultations are planned in the coming weeks as authorities work toward a comprehensive approach to addressing emergency care challenges at the country’s leading public hospital.

The comments were delivered during the Governor General’s annual inspection visit, which traditionally provides an opportunity for senior officials to review operations, acknowledge staff, and outline plans for future improvements within the healthcare system.