After years of persistent delays and shifting timelines, the much-anticipated Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at Princess Margaret Hospital is now projected to open by the end of 2025. Initially announced with high hopes in 2023, the project has encountered numerous setbacks, including equipment delays and repeated revisions to its completion schedule. Originally slated for a 2023 launch, the opening was first postponed to August, then to October, but the facility remains non-operational.
Aubynette Rolle, Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority, revealed that the final phase of the project hinges on the installation of a critical cooling system, known as the DX system, which is essential for regulating airflow in the new unit. Earlier plans to utilize the hospital’s existing system were deemed insufficient, prompting the need for this upgrade.
Rolle emphasized that contractors are currently preparing the space for operations, with furniture, fixtures, and equipment being installed. She urged the public to remain patient, assuring that officials are committed to ensuring the facility is fully equipped before opening. While expressing cautious optimism about meeting the new target, Rolle acknowledged potential challenges, particularly in importing necessary components.
The A&E expansion is designed to modernize emergency care and alleviate pressure on the hospital’s overcrowded existing department, which has long struggled with extended waiting times, limited space, and staff shortages. Public frustration has mounted over the repeated delays, as the new facility is seen as a critical solution to improving conditions for both patients and healthcare workers.