FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Health care services continue to improve in Grand Bahama, said Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville during a press conference at the Rand Memorial Hospital on Monday to announce the renovation project for the Rand.

Dr. Darville said it was less than three months ago that he, along with Hospital Administrator Sharon Williams, announced the reopening of The Hawksbill Clinic, and the extended hours of the Eight Mile Rock Clinic.

"Today," he said, "we have gathered once again to apprise the residents of Grand Bahama of the strides the Ministry of Health and the Public Hospitals Authority are making toward realizing our strategic goal, which is to enhance the public health infrastructure, and the delivery of quality healthcare services to all residents of the Northern Bahamas."

The Minister added, "thanks to the focused efforts of the Minister of Health and the Managing Director of the PHA all the outlying clinics from Sweeting's Cay to West End have been renovated, and 28 new physicians along with additional medical support staff are now employed with the Grand Bahama Health Services and are addressing the many challenges we faced in the public healthcare system for many years."

Vehicles purchased by PHA for the use of doctors and nurses for home visits, domiciliary care and infectious disease surveillance is in full service. Additionally, there is a new Family Practise Clinic with extended hours at the Rand. This has shifted some of the burden, he said, from the Accident and Emergency Department and patients in critical condition are now receiving urgent care without the long waits.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased as Minister for Grand Bahama, that the government will facilitate major renovations at the Rand Memorial Hospital and these necessary infrastructural upgrades of our tertiary health care facility will certainly prepare us for the launch of National Health Insurance in January, 2016. The plans and building permits would be completed in a few months and immediately following the tender process, a contract would be awarded and the long awaited construction will begin"

Minister Darville asked that residents are patient during this renovation phase, as the end result will be improved health care services for all.

He said the health and wellness of residents of Grand Bahama is of major concern to this administration, "and through a public private partnership model, we remain committed to the construction of a new state of the art hospital. Today's announcement about the major renovations at the Rand Memorial Hospital proves that we are definitely on the right track.

"I am confident that the Ministry of Health will continue to improve the delivery of quality health care for all residents of Grand Bahama in the months and years ahead."

Also present during the press conference were: The Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez, Minister of Health; Senator the Hon. Frank Smith, Chairman of Public Hospitals Authority; Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr. Glen Beneby, Chief Medical Officer; Herbert Brown, Managing Director, Public Hospitals Authority; Lawrence Chisholm, Lawrence Chisholm and Associates and Sharon Williams, Hospital Administrator of the Grand Bahama Health Services.