Officials at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) are preparing to expand the hospital’s bed capacity in a move aimed at easing congestion and improving patient flow.

Medical Director Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis says reopening a currently non-operational wing is now a priority as administrators work to address pressure within the Emergency Room and inpatient wards.

Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, Medical Director of Sir Lester Bird Medical Center

“We definitely need to look at our bed count,” Dr. Belle-Jarvis said. “We’re a 185-bedded facility, but we’re currently operating at a 158-bed capacity, and the challenge has been beds as well as human resources.”

Approximately two dozen beds remain out of service due to staffing shortages. However, that is expected to change with the addition of newly recruited Ghanaian nurses, who are set to begin work this week.

“Now that we’ve gotten the additional strength from the Ghanaian Brigade, and they’re going to start on Monday, once we operationalize the beds, we’ll be able to expand that space,” she explained. “In expanding that space, we can then take persons from the ER up quite quickly to the ward.”

Health officials anticipate that restoring full capacity will reduce the time patients spend waiting in the Emergency Room for admission, improving overall efficiency at the country’s main referral hospital.

Dr. Belle-Jarvis acknowledged that staffing remains a critical factor in expanding services but expressed confidence that the additional personnel will help stabilize operations.

“Infrastructural challenges, equipment challenges — we still have a long way to go,” she said, emphasizing that continued investment and partnership will be key to strengthening healthcare delivery.