by JULIE WILSON

A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR private hospital is expected to play a major part in the training of doctors here.

Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Hilary Beckles said discussions were ongoing with developers for constructing University of the West Indies (UWI) facilities on the acre-and- a-half of land at Welches, St Thomas, donated by construction magnate Sir Charles Williams alongside the plush multimillion-dollar private hospital.

And when completed, said Beckles, it is hoped that the private hospital could be utilised by the medical faculty as a major training ground.

"So that our students could benefit from that private hospital for medical training, so we [UWI] are talking to the investors . . . we are saying to the investors as soon as you are ready to begin your hospital development, the University will develop facilities adjacent to the your hospital so that we can share.

"We are looking to our students having access to the laboratories and the libraries and the clinical facilities of this hospital," he said.

It is understood the emphasis is on specialty training for young doctors and post-graduate students.

The proposed hospital is being developed by British billionaire Eddie Healey, who also bought the posh West Coast seaside residence Bachelor Hall three years ago.