Alexandra Hospital
Nevis's only public hospital ΓÇö your safety net in Charlestown.
Why Go
If something goes sideways on your Nevis trip ΓÇö a reef cut, a scooter spill, a stomach bug that won't quit ΓÇö this low concrete building on Government Road is where the whole island goes. It's small, it's steady, and it's staffed by nurses who probably know every family on the rock.
The Experience
Alexandra Hospital feels less like a big-city ER and more like a community clinic that happens to handle everything. Set a short walk from Charlestown's ferry pier, it has a covered breezeway, palm shade, and a triage window that opens straight to a nurse. Wait times swing with the day ΓÇö quick when the island's sleepy, slower when a cruise ship's in port. Care is competent for stitches, IV fluids, X-rays, maternity, straightforward emergencies, and the surprisingly busy Nevis Eye Care Programme (over 1,500 patient visits a year, plus laser treatments and cataract work). For anything major ΓÇö cardiac events, complex trauma, or specialist surgery ΓÇö patients are stabilised here and moved by ferry to JNF General on St. Kitts, or airlifted to Puerto Rico or Miami.
What to Try
Head to the 24/7 Accident & Emergency entrance for anything urgent, the outpatient clinic for prescription refills and minor issues, and the on-site pharmacy for common meds at fair EC-dollar prices. The Eye Care Programme takes walk-ins for anything from a stray coral fragment to sudden vision changes ΓÇö a quiet lifesaver for divers and snorkellers.
Insider Tip
Bring cash (EC or USD) and your passport ΓÇö travel insurance is rarely billed directly, so you'll pay upfront and claim it back later. Keep every receipt. And if it's not a true emergency, call (869) 469-5473 before you show up; the desk will often steer minor issues to the Charlestown Health Centre so A&E stays free for the real stuff.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Government Road, Charlestown, Nevis ΓÇö about a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Phone: (869) 469-5473. Emergency line: 911 or 469-1911. A&E is open 24/7; outpatient clinics generally run 8amΓÇô4pm weekdays. Visiting hours are enforced: two visitors per bedside, no children under 12. Cash is preferred; some credit cards accepted for larger bills. ATMs and pharmacies are a short walk away in central Charlestown.
Pair It With
- Evelyn's Drugstore — Central Charlestown pharmacy ΓÇö the natural next stop for follow-up prescriptions or over-the-counter basics after a hospital visit.
- Charlestown Health Centre — Better first stop for non-urgent issues like minor infections, vaccinations, or blood-pressure checks, keeping A&E free for true emergencies.
- Sea Bridge Ferry Terminal — Two minutes away; the route to JNF General Hospital on St. Kitts if you're referred for specialist care or scans not available on Nevis.