By Val Matthias and Admin. Updated 2:58 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4)
Health Minister, Mr Daniel Cummings, has announced that the government will relocate paediatric and maternity services from Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) to the new Acute Care Hospital at Arnos Vale. He described the decision as both economically necessary and medically urgent.
The US$110 million Acute Care Hospital is currently under construction, with an additional wing for paediatric and maternity services to be built at an undisclosed cost. This plan departs from the previous government’s intention to convert MCMH into a dedicated paediatric and maternity facility once the Acute Care Hospital becomes operational.
Construction of the Acute Care Hospital is expected to be completed in 2027.
At a press conference today (23 January), Mr Cummings explained that multiple reports over the years had recommended closing MCMH as a hospital, and the government has now decided to act. He cited the hospital’s location, which is prone to flooding, and the presence of a petrol station at one entrance, among other issues.
“This government has made the economic decision that we are going to do just that,” he said. “The construction of the hospital at Arnos Vale will include the paediatrics and maternity ward, which has long been recommended.”
The Minister stressed that the move is driven by efficiency and quality of care.
“St. Vincent is in a unique position compared with the OECS. For such a small population, we have six hospitals and several polyclinics. The administrative cost of healthcare is astronomical. It is far more efficient to include these units in one hospital atmosphere,” he noted.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) also hosts the World Pediatric Project (WPP), which performs life-changing surgeries and treatments on children across the Eastern Caribbean. These procedures are currently carried out at MCMH.
Mr Cummings reassured the public that adding the new wing at Arnos Vale would not delay construction of the already approved sections.
“The additional unit will be built on the same compound. Logistics are being worked out, and while it will require additional funding, it is better to do it now than later,” he said.
He also highlighted the inadequacy of the current facilities for mothers and children.
“Senior hospital administrators will tell you that maternity and paediatrics as they are now simply don’t meet the needs. Babies and mothers deserve better. This is something we must improve, and moving it now is better than waiting,” Cummings stressed.
While acknowledging the extra costs of expansion, the Minister argued that long-term efficiencies would outweigh the initial expense. “Over time, the great efficiencies generated from having all facilities closer together will have an overall beneficial effect,” he said.
The relocation of services from Milton Cato to Arnos Vale represents a fundamental shift in the country’s healthcare landscape, with the government positioning the new Acute Care Hospital as the central hub for specialised services.
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