24-Hour Hospital Opens on Ambergris Caye

This is huge news – an incredible holiday gift – for the residents of and the visitors to Ambergris Caye. A hospital is open in downtown San Pedro called Ambergris Hope Hospital with 24-hour emergency care and facilities for overnight patients.

Note: The Official Opening has NOT happened yet but I went in yesterday to try to get the scoop. The waiting room had about 20 people waiting…the place was bustling! I will write about ALL the details over the next few weeks. But this information is so exciting, I wanted to tell you. PLUS, please ask any questions that you would like me to ask…and I’ll try to get answers.

The island has had a SERIOUS need for a full-service, 24-hour hospital for…well…forever. It’s been a big hole for those living (or planning to live) on Ambergris Caye. One I didn’t even seriously think about until Jeff had a heart attack. (The scariest few days of my life)

One to add to: Things I Took for Granted Until I Became an Expat in Belize

What happens if you are having a baby (and especially having complications), if you think you are having a heart attack, if you get into an accident after the sun goes down?

Thank GOODNESS we now have RRR Emergency Response Team (get that phone # in your phone now!)

Ideally, there will be a doctor on call (our current doctors do a great job of that) – but the correct diagnostic equipment might not be available, the specialized care might be in Belize City. All a plane ride away…at night.

When I first moved to the island in 2007, we would all know when there was a serious medical emergency when we would hear the UK Army Helicopter landing and taking off from San Pedro airstrip…we didn’t have runway lights at that time. That helicopter service is no longer since the British forces pulled out in 2010.

But let me get to the new hospital – and share their Facebook page where they are listing services and specialists that will be available.

The Ambergris Hope Hospital is a private hospital located at the old Ambergris Hope Clinic/Dr. Dan Gonzalez’s office. Just north of the San Pedro Police Department and the San Pedro Fire Department.

The building has undergone massive renovations – and when I opened the door marked “EMERGENCY” I was shocked. Huge waiting room, a long hall lined with office doors, lots of seating and a large front desk. It’s all very impressive and I can’t wait to share more!

This is also a good time to check up on the progress of the public hospital that was announced with a groundbreaking ceremony (about 1.5 miles south of San Pedro town) in January of this year. Also announced was a $33mil grant for the project secured from the Govt of Taiwan.

I have not seen any movement or construction on this property – I’ll see if I can get an update from the GOB. THAT is not always easy.

That aside, this is incredible news. And, just from the crowd I saw yesterday, it should be a great success. They already have overnight patients! Dr. Dan is a VERY popular and insanely hardworking doctor in San Pedro with locals and visitors. This huge expansion is a home run for our community.

Let me know all of your questions and I’ll fill in the details and lots more pictures when they are ready to present themselves to the “media”.