Health

Ministry of Health and Social Services Commissions Independent Health Inspection

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) will welcome its first independent health services inspection at the Glendon Hospital which will focus on an assessment framework similar to that used by UK Health Regulators’ during the period February 16-20, 2026.  The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is committed to building a robust health system through which good quality, cost effective and evidence-based health services are provided.   To achieve this, it is essential for periodic external inspections to be undertaken. The Glendon hospital has undergone previous assessments regarding provision of services in the past however none have focused on this type of assessment framework. The MoHSS therefore regards this inspection as a critical aspect of continued service improvement.  UK Ambassador for Healthcare to the Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming OBE will lead the Health Inspection team visit to Montserrat.  As this is a first inspection, the entire health service will not be inspected. This is likely to require too broad a range of experts and a longer period of time than is available. It has therefore been decided that the Glendon Hospital will be the focus, looking specifically at areas where the most critical care is provided: emergency care (including ambulance and Casualty), ward-based care, theatres and the process for medical treatment overseas. In addition to the above-mentioned service areas of focus, the inspection team will also review the quality of care provided by our team of doctors across all service areas at the Glendon Hospital. The inspection team will apply the five guiding principles as adopted by the CQC to the agreed assessment framework—is the facility safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Feedback from members of the public also forms an important part of the health inspection. To facilitate this, the Inspection Team will make themselves available to speak to members of the public at a Public meeting at the Brades Arts and Education Centre on Wednesday 18th February, 2026 starting at 6:00p.m. This meeting will be held based on confirmation of interest from members of public. Therefore, persons interested in meeting with the Inspectors on this date are asked to contact the Ministry at 491-2880/491-4520 or email mehcsmail@gov.ms  by 12pm on the 17th February 2026. Members of the Public who wish to submit feedback in relation to the services provided will be able to do so, by e-mail to the Inspection Co-ordinator, Professor Heidi Fuller on  h.r.fuller@keele.ac.uk  with a closing date of 20th February, 2026. Please note that the Inspectors are not able to look into specific individual episodes of care. If you have a specific concern or query about your care, this should be raised in the normal way; directly with the healthcare professionals treating you. To help provide some context as to the type of information that would be useful to the inspection team, the five key questions that will be addressed by the inspection are: The inspection team would be pleased to learn of your views, positive and negative of the above-mentioned services. By requesting this feedback in advance of the inspection it will aid the inspection team in gaining a sense of services, and identify any particular trends. During the inspection itself, inspectors will also opportunistically engage with service users. This will again be voluntary, and anyone not wishing to speak with the inspectors will be under no obligation to do so. On completion of the inspection, a report will be developed by the independent experts. This report will be made available to the public in order to ensure transparency of a government department and allow for the public to read a balanced assessment of our services.  The report is expected to identify areas for improvement and will contribute to future service enhancements.

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Visiting Specialist Calls for Greater Autism Awareness in Montserrat

A visiting specialist in autism support, child development and psychology has underscored the need to raise the awareness level of the condition locally. Cassandra Ryner, who is married to a Montserratian, has been sharing her experience as a parent bolstered by working in mainstream education with autistic individuals and their families, especially in the United Kingdom. She was at the time speaking about the condition on the latest “eyes on the country” programme on Radio Montserrat. Mrs Ryner explained further the difference in communication between an autistic child and one who doesn‘t present with the condition.

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Minister of Health Reveals 2026 Plans for the Sector

The Government of Montserrat plans to take healthcare to the people in 2026. Portfolio minister Dr. the Hon. Ingrid Buffonge says the use of a mobile service will boost screening programs to ensure diabetic and hypertensive patients are diagnosed early. She says persons who have complications from these conditions, are at increased risk of cerebral vascular disease, stroke, heart disease, and other aspects of heart disease. The minister emphasizes the importance finding these persons early as there is a lot that can be done in primary healthcare to prevent strokes and heart attacks in the first place. Dr. Buffonge also notes that Peripheral Vascular Disease circulatory problems are prevalent in Montserrat, and this proactive approach would reduce death and disability from the chronic non-communicable diseases. She says the ministry wants to also increase efforts in finding cancers early through strong screening programs, and investigating patient’s concerns. These screening programmes, Dr. Buffonge emphasized, will help to remind patients to do their tests and help the health service to diagnose and monitor cases. The Ministry of Health and Social Services officially commissioned a Mobile Medical Van and a Solar Portable Storage Container in December. The Van, which was specifically customized for Montserrat, is designed to support on-site health screenings and immunizations; basic laboratory testing; treatment of acute and chronic illnesses; and the delivery of women’s health services including pelvic exams and mammograms.

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Ministry of Health and Social Services Implements New Healthcare Fee Structure

Tuesday, 3 February 2026 (GIU, Montserrat) – The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) will implement a new healthcare fee structure at the Glendon Hospital, effective 4th February 2026. The new fee structure is aimed at improving access to medical services and ensuring greater equity across the population. Under the Public Hospital (Amendment) Regulations, Statutory Rules and Orders (S.R.O.) 1 of 2026; the following will take effect as of Wednesday, 4 February 2026: All other persons accessing care will pay two times the rate for services offered by the Ministry of Health and Social Services as stipulated by law. This includes CARICOM nationals and citizens of the Dominican Republic who have not been resident for at least 3 years.   Individuals must present proof of residency to the Medical Records Department before accessing non-emergency services in order to benefit from this amendment. This documentation must be obtained from the Immigration Department.  The public is advised that the new fee structure does not erase or forgive existing medical bills. All outstanding balances must still be settled. For assistance, persons are asked to contact Medical Records at Glendon Hospital at 491-2552. The Ministry of Health and Social Services remains committed to ensuring accessible, fair, and sustainable healthcare services for all residents of Montserrat.

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Health Officials from St. Helena to Visit Montserrat for Systems Exchange

The Ministry of Health and Social Services on Montserrat is preparing to host health officials from St. Helena on a reciprocal health systems exchange. St. Helena’s Minister of Health and Social Care, Martin Henry, and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Peter Ross will visit Montserrat from February 3rd to 10th 2026. The visit is supported and facilitated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) aimed at fostering mutual understanding of how the aid-dependent health systems in the two UK Overseas Territories operate. Both Montserrat and St. Helena are small in size with a population of under 5000 people, and share similarities in the provision of Primary and Secondary health care and the implementation of an overseas referral system for cases requiring advance or specialist interventions. The discussions during the week will focus on health legislation, governance and regulatory frameworks for standards of care and provision of services, as well as health financing possibilities in the small economies. Other areas for discussion will include the role of UK support in sustaining essential services and investing in public health infrastructure, such as the New National Hospital which is currently being constructed on Montserrat. A date for Montserrat’s Health officials to visit St. Helena as part of this reciprocal health exchange is being finalized, and will be confirmed at a later date. The Ministry of Health and Social Services looks forward to learning and exploring new ways and best practices for the continued enhancement of health care on island.

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Public Health Discussion Planned on Cancers in March

Residents of Montserrat stand to benefit from an upcoming and important public health discussion on the management of breast and prostate cancers. Oncologist and Haematologist, Dr. Perrie Ryan, is set to make his second professional visit to the island where he will lead a town hall meeting, set for Tuesday, March 10th. Organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the meeting will take place at the Davy Hill Community Centre starting at 7:00 p.m. It will focus on modern approaches to cancer management, including the importance of early detection, current treatment options, and strategies for patient empowerment. The Ministry says the session is designed to be interactive and accessible, giving members of the public the opportunity to ask questions, and gain valuable insight into these critical health issues affecting the community.

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New National Hospital on Track to Meet 2027 Completion

Governor Her Excellency Harriet Cross has given a positive review on the construction of the island’s new hospital. Following a recent visit to the new hospital site, Governor Cross said she is encouraged by the level of progress made in just under a year with several floors already being constructed, and the site busy with activity. She said medical equipment is already on order, and that the project is on track to be completed and operational by March 2027. The new hospital is expected to deliver State-of-the-art emergency care, comprehensive management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), on-site cancer screenings and improved systems for medical evacuations. The project is being spearheaded by Saint Lucia-based firm Construction & Industrial Equipment (CIE) Ltd.

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Mobile Clinic Screens 84 People for HIV on World AIDS Day

84 persons got tested for HIV through the Ministry of Health’s Mobile Clinic on World AIDS Day last week. This was reported by Community Nursing Manager, Nurse Alex Ackie on the Talking Health Radio Programme. On December 1st, the mobile clinic went to three locations on Montserrat to provide safe and confidential HIV testing to the public. Nurse Ackie shared details about the day, highlighting the large amount of men that got tested.

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Ministry of Health and Social Services Commissions New Mobile Medical Van and Storage Container for Montserrat

A new Mobile Medical Van and Storage Container for Montserrat were commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Social Services on Wednesday morning. The van and storage container were procured through the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Direct Relief project. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor, Her Excellency Harriet Cross lauded the developments in Montserrat’s health sector, and thanked the health staff for their work. In his remarks, Premier, the Hon. Reuben T. Meade highlighted the continued support of the OECS, noting the difficulty Montserrat often faces with other funding agencies. Meanwhile, acting permanent secretary, Viona Alexander-Smith explained the purpose of the mobile van and storage unit, saying these support the ministry’s strategic targets by increasing accessibility to healthcare and improving public health outcomes.

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Government of Montserrat Poised to Sign MOU with Guadeloupe

The Government is poised to sign  Memorandum of Understanding with Guadeloupe that will boost healthcare for residents in Montserrat. Minister of Health, Dr. the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge says she is taking the MOU to the Cabinet, that allows Montserrat to have a better relationship with nearby hospitals that have tertiary centers. Dr. Buffonge was speaking at the recent Diaspora Leadership Conference.

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