Grenada has four government hospitals and a small number of private ones, and knowing which does what saves time when it matters. The short version: serious emergencies on the mainland go to the General Hospital in St George's; the east coast is served by Princess Alice Hospital near Grenville; Carriacou and Petite Martinique depend on Princess Royal Hospital in Carriacou; and private hospitals in St George's parish handle a share of elective work, diagnostics and patients who prefer to pay for speed.
What none of them can do is everything. Grenada is a country of roughly 115,000 to 125,000 people, and some specialist treatments, complex surgery and intensive care beyond a certain level are sent overseas, usually to Barbados, Trinidad or the United States. Understanding that limit is the single most useful thing a visitor or new resident can know about the local system.
The General Hospital in St George's
The General Hospital is the country's main referral hospital and the only facility with a full range of inpatient specialties. It sits on the hill above the Carenage, next to Fort George, which means access is by steep, narrow streets that jam at school and office hours. If you are driving someone in, allow for that, and know that the accident and emergency department works on triage: the sickest are seen first, and a sprained ankle on a busy evening can mean a long wait.
The hospital has surgical, medical, paediatric, obstetric and intensive care units, a laboratory, imaging including CT, and a dialysis service. It is also a teaching site for St George's University students, so you may be seen by a team rather than a single doctor. Facilities are older than many visitors expect, and the government has acknowledged this: construction of a new 250-bed teaching hospital at Calivigny, known as Project Polaris, began in 2026, with opening projected for around 2029. Until then the existing General Hospital remains the main emergency hospital.
Princess Alice Hospital and the east coast
Princess Alice Hospital is at Mirabeau in the parish of St Andrew, a short drive inland from Grenville. It serves St Andrew, St Patrick and much of St David, and it handles casualty, general medical and maternity cases, with a smaller range of specialist services than St George's. Patients needing specialist surgery or higher-level intensive care are transferred to the General Hospital by road, which takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on route and traffic.
For anyone staying in the north or east, for example around Sauteurs, Bathway or River Antoine, Princess Alice is usually the nearest emergency door. For a serious injury, however, it can make sense to go straight to St George's if a transfer looks likely anyway. Ask the ambulance crew or the casualty doctor; they make this call regularly and know what each hospital can manage on a given day.
Carriacou, Petite Martinique and Mt Gay
Princess Royal Hospital at Belair in Carriacou is the only hospital on the sister islands. Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 tore off most of its roof and flooded wards, and services were run from a small working area and an emergency field hospital in the months that followed. Repairs and rebuilding have been under way since, so anyone with a medical condition planning a stay on Carriacou or Petite Martinique should check the hospital's current capacity before travelling. Serious cases from the sister islands are transferred to the mainland by air or sea.
The fourth government hospital, Mt Gay in St George's, is the national psychiatric hospital. It is not an emergency department for physical injuries, but it is the referral point for acute mental health care, usually reached through a doctor or through the General Hospital.
Getting there: ambulance, taxi or your own car
In a life-threatening emergency, call 911. The Government of Grenada also publishes short direct numbers for the ambulance services attached to each of the three general hospitals; save them from the official emergency services list when you arrive. Ambulances are based at the hospitals, so response times depend heavily on distance. In St George's and along the south coast an ambulance can arrive fairly quickly; in the far north, on the east coast or up in the hills around Grand Etang it can take considerably longer.
Because of this, many residents drive a patient in themselves when the person is conscious, breathing normally and can sit up safely. That decision is a judgement call: for chest pain, a suspected spinal injury, heavy bleeding or someone who has collapsed, wait for trained help and follow the call-taker's instructions. If you do drive, phone ahead so the casualty team knows you are coming, and have someone else in the car to keep watch over the patient.
Taxis will usually take an unwell passenger to hospital, and hotel staff can call one quickly. Agree the fare before setting off, as taxis are not metered.
Visiting and staying in a Grenadian hospital
Public hospital wards in Grenada are often shared, with set visiting hours that are enforced more strictly than visitors from abroad may expect. Families play a large role in patient care: relatives commonly bring food, drinks, toiletries, towels and nightclothes, and sometimes help with washing and feeding. If you are admitted while travelling alone, tell your accommodation or a friend, because there may be nobody else to bring basics.
Ask early whether a private or semi-private room is available and what it costs. Bring a phone charger, a list of contacts, your insurance details and a bottle of water. Discharge paperwork and medicines can take time to arrange, so if you have a flight to catch, raise it with the ward team as soon as you know the date.
Private hospitals and when people use them
What they offer. Grenada's private hospitals and clinics are concentrated in St George's parish, with St Augustine's Medical Services the best known. They offer consultations, day surgery, imaging and some inpatient care, and they are often quicker for non-urgent problems. Shorter waits and private rooms are the main draws.
What they do not offer. Private does not mean more advanced. For major trauma, a heart attack or a complicated birth, the General Hospital still has the broadest team on site. Private facilities may stabilise you and then transfer you there.
How payment works. Expect to pay upfront or provide a deposit unless your insurer has a direct billing arrangement. Ask for an itemised invoice and the doctor's report in English for your claim; both are routinely provided if you ask.
Diving injuries. A hyperbaric chamber was installed at St Augustine's in 2017 to treat decompression illness. Availability of any chamber depends on staffing and maintenance, so divers should contact their dive operator and a diving emergency service immediately rather than assuming the chamber is ready.
What to check before you need a hospital
Most problems with hospital care in Grenada come from small gaps in preparation rather than from the hospitals themselves. A few minutes of checking avoids most of them:
- Confirm whether your travel or health insurance pays hospitals directly or expects you to claim afterwards, and carry the insurer's emergency assistance details on paper as well as on your phone.
- Know which hospital is nearest to where you are sleeping, not just to the airport or St George's. Distances are short but roads are slow.
- Bring a written list of your medicines, allergies and conditions. Records are not shared electronically with overseas hospitals.
- Carry some cash in Eastern Caribbean dollars and a card; deposits and pharmacy bills often need immediate payment.
- If you have a condition that might need specialist care, ask your doctor at home whether Grenada is suitable and what your evacuation plan would be.
- For Carriacou and Petite Martinique, check the current status of Princess Royal Hospital before booking a long stay.
Frequently asked questions
Which hospital in Grenada has the main emergency department?
The General Hospital in St George's is the main emergency and referral hospital for the whole country. Princess Alice Hospital near Grenville and Princess Royal Hospital in Carriacou also run casualty departments, but complex cases are usually transferred to St George's or, when necessary, overseas.
Are hospitals in Grenada free for visitors?
No. Residents benefit from subsidised public care, but visitors should expect to be charged at both public and private facilities, and private hospitals often ask for a deposit. Travel insurance that includes medical treatment and evacuation is strongly advisable for anyone visiting.
Is there a private hospital in Grenada?
Yes. Several private hospitals and clinics operate in St George's parish, including St Augustine's Medical Services. They are used mainly for consultations, diagnostics and planned procedures. For major trauma the public General Hospital remains the better-equipped option until the new national hospital opens.
When is the new hospital in Grenada opening?
Construction of the new 250-bed teaching hospital at Calivigny, known as Project Polaris, began in 2026. The government has projected an opening around 2029. Large building projects often shift, so treat that date as a target rather than a certainty.
What happens if a hospital in Grenada cannot treat a patient?
The treating doctor arranges a transfer, usually by air ambulance to Barbados, Trinidad or the United States. Your insurer's assistance team normally coordinates this, which is why evacuation cover matters. Without insurance, the family or patient pays the full cost.
