Announcing Bus Access for Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre Residents

Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability accompanied by Chief Officer Tamara Ebanks, PRC Director, Marcia Mullings-Thompson, PRC Clinical Director, Dr. Marc Lockhart along with other Ministry and PRC team members with the new Toyota Coaster bus that strengthens the services available to residents at the facility.

Residents of the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) now have improved access to medical services and community activities with the introduction of a new wheelchair accessible transport bus. The addition of this bus supports the delivery of long-term care services and responds to the increasingly complex needs of residents.

The vehicle, a Toyota Coaster bus, can accommodate up to 14 persons, including space for four wheelchair users. It has been specially configured to support residents with mobility challenges and is equipped with a wheelchair lift, secure tie-down systems and flexible seating, allowing wheelchair users and non-emergent ambulatory residents to travel safely together. The bus will be incorporated into the Centre’s regular transport schedule, supporting daily coordination of medical appointments, therapy sessions and organised outings.

Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said the new vehicle strengthens the services available to residents at the facility.

“This new vehicle provides increased flexibility to expand external programming, including activities that support residents in building skills for reintegration into the community. The residents can now enjoy trips to the beach and parks, shopping and family visits. It also supports continuity of care by enabling residents to attend scheduled appointments and rehabilitation services, while facilitating regular participation in structured activities that promote mental health, social engagement and routine.”

PRC Director, Marcia Mullings-Thompson, said the addition of the vehicle represents a meaningful improvement for residents and daily operations.

“This bus represents a significant improvement for our residents. We are now able to coordinate transport more efficiently for both individual appointments and group activities. Residents who require wheelchair access can travel alongside their peers, supporting inclusion, social interaction and a more consistent daily routine, all of which contribute to quality of life and mental wellbeing.”

PRC Clinical Director, Dr. Marc Lockhart, said accessible transportation is a key component of healthcare delivery for residents requiring mobility support.

“Accessible transportation is a critical component of healthcare delivery for residents who require mobility support. This bus strengthens our ability to support both clinical care and broader wellbeing for residents.”

Additional service enhancements at the Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre continue to expand capacity and strengthen care delivery. Cottage four has recently opened and can accommodate four additional female residents, bringing the current resident population to 24. Cottage five is expected to open in the coming months, further increasing capacity.

The Centre has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the University College of the Cayman Islands to support the clinical training of nursing students in mental health and to provide clinical supervision for Social Work students.. The first group of Social Work students completed a practicum in April and Nursing students are scheduled to begin this month. This collaboration supports workforce development while providing students with supervised clinical experience in a residential mental health setting.

The Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), located in East End, Grand Cayman, is a tertiary care residential mental health facility under the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability. It provides care for individuals in the Cayman Islands living with serious and persistent mental illness within a safe, secure and therapeutic environment. PRC forms part of the continuum of mental health services in the Cayman Islands, with a focus on rehabilitation, recovery and community reintegration. Through a holistic approach to care, services are designed to support residents to heal, build hope and transform their lives, with the goal of returning to the community where possible

The new bus is now in service and being used to transport residents to medical appointments, therapy sessions and organised community outings.