The Central Planning Authority has granted planning permission for two new clinical spaces worth an estimated CI$700,000 at Anthony S. Eden Hospital in George Town.
The authority approved the dual Health Service Authority applications during its 22 July meeting, allowing the hospital to convert existing spaces for new clinic uses, including an expanded mental-health clinic for adolescents and a paediatric outpatient clinic.
The first, $250,000 application proposes converting 1,752-square-feet of existing administrative offices into a paediatric clinic. A second, $450,000 application would turn 1,537 square feet of former women’s health offices and treatment rooms into an expanded adolescent mental-health clinic.
The HSA’s applications did not provide additional details on the facilities or their construction timelines.
In July 2025, the HSA announced the opening of a dedicated adolescent behavioural health inpatient facility to improve safety and care of young people requiring mental health services. At the time, the authority described the three-bed unit as an interim measure to provide age-appropriate care.
Neither planning application drew objections, and the Department of Environment recorded no comments. Planning officers reported no concerns with either change of use, and the CPA granted both subject to standard permit and occupancy conditions.
The applications come amid an ongoing budget deficit for the Health Services Authority.
The authority posted a $2.4 million operating deficit for the first half of 2026, against a budgeted surplus of $234,000, according to the core government’s quarterly financial report, detailing the first six months of 2026.
The authority reported an unfavourable variance of $2.7 million. Separately, government’s subvention payments to the HSA reached $40.2m, exceeding the budget by $7.6m, driven by overspending on care of indigents, geriatric services and chronic-ailment treatment.
