Tufton Says Land Needed as Pt Antonio Hospital Has Outlived Usefulness, Can’t be Expanded
PT ANTONIO, Portland; Nov. 9, 2026
A nurse in Portland has offered the Government five acres of land to build a hospital, which the people and politicians say is badly needed.
The offer was made to the Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton, at a public function in Manchioneal, Portland, on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The Minister was in the East Portland coastal town to open a dental clinic that had been rehabilitated after Hurricane Melissa damage shuttered it.
(Nurse Elaine Linzi. Behind her is Chief Public Health Onspector Lorenzo Hume)
Nurse Elaine Linzi said the land she was willing to donate was not in Port Antonio and didn’t have to be. It is between Kensington and Rural Hill.
Her offer came after Dr Tufton acknowledged that the parish needed a major hospital and that the one in Port Antonio has outlived its usefulness.
He said at Port Antonio Hospital demand for services had ougrown supply, there was a problem of access during an emergency and that it was not possible to expand the hospital at the present location.
Tufton acknowledged the advocacy of the Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern, Isat Buchanan in advocating for a new hospital for the parish.
(Stakeholders at the re-opening of the refurbished Katus Blakey Dental Clinic in Manchioneal. From left Joan Robinson McPherson, Parish manager Portland Health Department; Dr. Christopher Tufton Minister of Health and Wellness; Isat Buchanan Eastern Portland Member of Parliament and Dr Sharon Lewis Medical Officer of Health Portland Health Department).
“The reality is that the [Port Antonio] hospital here in this parish has outlived its full potential and we accept that. The truth is the demand on the facility is higher than the facility’s capacity to deliver. The location of the facility is a problem, because it has no space for expansion. The access to the facility is a challenge, especially when you have an emergency,” he said.
He said the government was in fact “scouting” now for the most appropriate lands to build a new hospital in Portland. He said discussions had been held with several Government agencies about land. The Minister said he hoped that “up to the end of this financial year, maybe sometime in the new year, beyond that, we should at least have some idea as to where that is.”
Public Health Nurse Elaine Linzi originally from London United Kingdom said: “There seems to be a challenge re identifying a suitable area for the hospital and I’m offering you my land. I have five acres. Think out of the box and not always think Port Antonio, Port Antonio, Port Antonio. We have wonderful places right here in the east, flat, accessible, cool. All you need is electricity, water and staff. Okay. All right. It is between Kensington and Rural Hill,” Nurse Linzi offered. That’s several miles from Port Antonio.
(Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton and Nurse Elaine Linzi in an exchange)
The Minister thanked the nurse for the offer which was applauded
“It’s a good offer. Send us a note and we’ll look at it and all of the team look at it… It’s not necessarily the capital. It could be anywhere on the outskirts.”
Dr Tufton said over the next year an update will be provided about the plans for a Portland hospital.
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