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Last chance to join the 10th Corporate Blood Drive!

12 August 2022: Bermuda companies and organisations still have a chance to join the tenth Corporate Blood Drive, with the deadline for signing up 31 August 2022. Any company interested in joining up should email blood.donor@bhb.bm or call 236-5067.

“This is a special tenth anniversary for the Corporate Blood Drive,” said Lucy Correia, nurse phlebotomist at the Bermuda Blood Donor Centre. “This competition has made such a big difference to people in Bermuda who need transfusions. Companies who sign up have helped sustain our blood donor pool in Bermuda, whether they won the competition or not. All our blood is from local donors, and when companies join the competition they are supporting their existing donors and helping encourage new people to consider donating.

“One of our regular donors Janice Richards, who won the blood donor Hamilton Princess raffle this year, has been donating for many years – but it all started with an email in her workplace that was encouraging people to donate because the hospital was in need. This is the difference employers can make.

“This is our 10th competition so we are going to make it special, and we hope companies who have previously participated as well as new companies will consider joining in. While there will be a winner announced in June 2023, in this competition every company, every donation makes a big difference.”

Ms Correia adds: “Even just participating helps encourage blood donation so please consider joining. For the more serious competitors, having blood drives and promotions, and encouraging friends, family and even visiting consultants to donate, with a focus on getting as high as possible in the competition listing, can make it fun. Plus, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing you are saving lives. Give us a call or email, and we can sign you up.”

12 August 2022 Home Page, News

Donate blood and win a ride on a Whip

Tuesday 9 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) and the Bermuda Blood Donor Centre today announce that blood and apheresis donors who donate between 1 August and 30 September 2022 will be entered into a raffle draw for two $50 Whip Rideshare credit prizes. This is thanks to Whip Rideshare, which has donated the Whip ride credits. The winner will be announced on 1 October 2022.

Whip Rideshare is Bermuda’s first e-scooter ridesharing micro mobility service and affordable eco-transport.

Alex Marshall, the founder of Whip Rideshare, states: “I have previously been a blood donor and wanted to help encourage people to donate as it is important for our community. We are all one family in Bermuda and this is one way we can help each other. Whip is proud to be a part of such a worthy cause. I encourage everyone to come to the Blood Donor Centre at the hospital and donate. Your donation will help save lives.”

The Bermuda Blood Donor Centre is the island’s sole donation centre supporting the hospital. In 2021 there were over 2,000 transfusions, and the need for donors continues to grow.

Bermuda Blood Donor Centre Nurse Phlebotomist Lucy Correia adds: “We are so grateful for the donation from Whip. If you are considering donating for the first time we promise to make it as comfortable as possible. The process only takes about 30 minutes and your one gift of blood can help up to three people, as well as put you in the raffle for the Whip ride credits.

“We are located on the first floor of the General Wing of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and are open Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 2:30pm, and Friday 8:30am to 1pm for appointments. Call 236-5067. You can also visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com for more information about donating.”

9 August 2022 Home Page, News

Community Intellectual Disability Team hosts Exceptional Summer event

Monday 8 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Community Intellectual Disability Team (CIDT) will be hosting its Exceptional Summer BBQ Celebration at the end of August.

“This is the second social event we’ve created this year specifically for our intellectual disability community and their families,” said Chris Cunningham, manager of CIDT. “To mark the first anniversary of our team, we held A Fete of Exceptionalities in June at the Warwick Parish Council Field. That was so well received that we decided to create another social event.”

Exceptional Summer BBQ Celebration will take place on Saturday 27 August at Clearwater Beach from 11am-2pm.

“The main objectives of these events are to provide our clients with safe space for meaningful interaction with the general community and their peers,” said Morrisa Rogers, clinical director of the Intellectual Disability Programme. “It’s our hope that other event organisers will, through our example, understand how to make inclusion possible for those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Diversity and inclusion have far reaching positive effects on all members of our community.”

 

 

 

 

8 August 2022 Home Page, News

38 college and university students join BHB for summer internships

Thursday 4 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has employed 38 students in its Summer Student Programme this year. The 12-week programme provides college and university students an opportunity to gain experience, develop skills, and make important business contacts in their field of interest.

Students this year are from a wide range of disciplines and degree programmes, both clinical and non-clinical.

“Our 2022 cohort of interns comes from 29 different institutions based in Bermuda, Canada, Curacao, Cyprus, the UK and the US,” said Asia Ming-Raynor, manager of the BHB programme. “They are working across various departments within our organisation. We have seven medical students, who are at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), two psychology students who are based at our Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI), and four nursing students who work across both campuses.”

Students are also working in the following BHB departments: Facilities Management, Finance, hospital medical records, Environmental Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Lab Services, Long Term Care, Neurology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Project Management and Imaging Services.

“We are pleased to offer this experience to our young Bermudians,” said BHB Deputy CEO Scott Pearman, “particularly as we had to cut back during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“BHB has offered summer internships since the 1960s, but in 2000 we revamped the programme, expanding it to include non-clinical interns in the many supporting areas of the organisation.

“While our 2022 intake is lower than pre-pandemic years, we are greatly encouraged by the high calibre of those that have joined us this year. We also thank the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation (BHCF) and their corporate donors, who have funded the programme.”

“We recognise the importance of supporting and encouraging excellence in our future BHB workforce,” said BHCF Executive Director Lisa Sheppard. “We donated $150,000 for this year’s Summer Student Programme. An important aspect of the student work experience is that on completion of their studies, they are motivated to return to Bermuda and to BHB.”

Over the past five years, BHB has employed 236 Bermudian interns in its summer programme. Of those, 39 were medical students, 191 were general studies students, and six were culinary arts students.

BHB’s 2022 summer students are: Ma Jasmin Bacabac, Asrael Basden, Llewllyn Burgess, Annefa Burke, Gianluca Cacace, Tahj Cox, Maya De Silva, Jay-Quan Dill, Delia Ebbin, Justin Ebbin, Yanni Gibbons, Dedra Hayward, Jahkera Hill-Ingham, Chantae Hollis, Christopher Jackson, Haleigh Martin, Ryley Mason, Gabriella Medeiros, Erika Morris, Fatima Muhammad, Sierra Pacheco, Kyon Parfitt, Abigail Powell, Jaeshri Romeo, Shondreka Scraders, Tiara Shine, Kyasia Simmons, Ari Smith, Keishun Swan, Charlotte Theisen, Nathan Titterton, Keiron Tucker, Ceola Wade, Izeya Wainwright, Shania Wedderburn, Destiny White, Katherine White  and  Diego Wilson.

Applications for BHB’s 2023 Summer Student Programme will be released on the website BHB Jobs NOW – Bermuda Hospitals Board, in December.

BHB Summer Student Statistics 2017-2022

4 August 2022 Home Page, News

Anna Neilson-Williams appointed as chief of psychiatry

Monday 1 August 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces that Dr Anna Neilson-Williams has been appointed as chief of psychiatry. Dr Neilson-Williams has been the acting chief of psychiatry since September 2021.

The chief of psychiatry provides clinical direction and administrative leadership for mental health, substance use and intellectual disability services, and is accountable for the quality of care delivered. The position reports to the chief of staff and to the Board, and is a member of the Executive Team.

Dr Neilson-Williams first joined BHB in 2000 as a resident psychiatrist. She was a general practitioner from 2003 to 2009 with The Family Practice Group. During this time, from 2007-8, Dr Neilson-Williams was also the physician lead for the MWI Medical Outpatient Clinic, and between 2008-9 she was the physician lead for the Continuing Care Unit at KEMH. Dr Neilson-Williams was previously the deputy chief of psychiatry, and from 2014 has been the director of the Continuing Medical Education Programme.

Dr Neilson-Williams gained her medical degree with the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She also has a MSc with distinction in mental health: transcultural mental healthcare from the University of London, Queen Mary’s and Westfield College. In 2020 Dr Neilson-Williams was awarded a Fellowship from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK, in recognition to her contribution in psychiatry. She also holds a diploma in leadership and management from the City & Guild of London Institute.

Chief of Staff Dr Wesley Miller comments: “I am very pleased to appoint Dr Neilson-Williams to this critical position at BHB. She has a deep understanding of the needs of mental health, substance use and intellectual disability services in Bermuda and helped lead the MWI Directorate Plan 2021-2026, which is guiding the development of services. As the project lead for the establishment of the Integrated Healthcare Clinic, Dr Neilson-Williams also is part of the evolution of services within BHB that is seeing better coordination and collaboration across sites and within the community. It is an exciting time to be in this vital role and Dr Neilson-Williams is the ideal person to help lead us through this time of change.”

 

1 August 2022 Home Page, News

BHB laundry gets $6.6 million upgrade

Sunday 24 July 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has started a $6.6-million project to renovate its ageing laundry facility. The Laundry & Linen Department has been housed in the basement of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s (KEMH) General Wing since the facility was constructed in the 1960s.

“Renovation of this area is necessary as the infrastructure is almost 60 years old and failing,” said BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer Preston Swan. “This department services all the laundry for both our hospitals, KEMH and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. On average, 5,000 to 6,000 pounds are processed in the facility every day.”

The old facility closed in early July to facilitate the upgrade and has a December 2022 completion date.

“New hot and cold water lines, steam piping and exhaust ductwork will be installed to replace the ageing infrastructure,” said BHB Principal Engineer Ellsworth Wainwright.

“The old boiler room building will be demolished, and a new building will be constructed to house the new hot water system, allowing the washers to operate more efficiently,” he added.

Those efficiencies will reduce costs.

“We have experienced complete equipment failures multiple times over the past year, putting the organisation at material risk in being able to execute our mandate,” said BHB Hotel Services Director Jerome Swainson. “The new modern equipment will provide efficiencies in wash cycles, and water and chemical use, as well as reduced energy consumption.

“Additional savings will be achieved in the reduction of additional hours, overtime and outsourcing due to frequent equipment downtime over the years.”

BHB Laundry & Linen Department transition 

The Laundry & Linen Department has 33 staff, all of whom remain employed within BHB during the renovation. Most of the staff carry out their regular duties, such as sorting, folding and distribution, from a temporary workstation created in another area of the basement. A few laundry operators have been redeployed to one of the outside service providers, which have been retained to launder BHB’s linen while the renovations are underway.

Greymane Construction is the general contractor for the project.

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24 July 2022 Home Page, News

BHB Primary Stroke Centre celebrates three-year anniversary

Sunday 17 July 2022: Today is the third anniversary of the launch of Bermuda Hospitals Board’s (BHB) Primary Stroke Centre. In April, the Stroke Centre received confirmation from Accreditation Canada that it had achieved distinction certification for its acute stroke and rehabilitation services – Accreditation Canada’s highest award for stroke centres. This certification means that BHB has implemented the protocols to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke, as well as evaluation, prevention and rehabilitation.

The full report is being released to the public today and can be found on bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com.

BHB provides its Primary Stroke Centre services in a clinical affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International. The collaboration has been instrumental in developing novel services to better manage stroke care in Bermuda. This includes the tele stroke service, where a neurologist is involved via phone and the internet from the first indication on arrival at the hospital that the person is experiencing a stroke.

“Every second is critical in the case of a stroke,” said BHB consultant neurologist Dr Kehinde Kolapo. “That we are able to quickly identify stroke allows us to administer IV thrombolysis tPA (IV tPA), a clot-busting drug which greatly improves patient outcomes.”

Local tele stroke service began in June 2020. In December 2020, Johns Hopkins Medicine International neurologists began working with BHB. This innovative way of managing stroke patients helps us collaborate in real time to care for Bermudian patients, despite being over 800 miles apart,” said Dr Victor Urrutia, director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center.

In 2021, BHB had its first transoceanic patient transferred from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) to a comprehensive stroke centre in the US for removal of a clot in a large blood vessel. The procedure (mechanical thrombectomy) is not available in Bermuda and, because patients must be transferred very quickly, referral overseas is difficult.

“Our efforts to improve stroke care at BHB are ongoing,” said BHB Chief of Staff Wesley Miller. “The introduction of BHB’s Patient Electronic and Administrative Records Log – PEARL – later this year is an example of that. It will create efficiencies that will help ensure we provide the best care and safety for our stroke patients.”

File photo of the 2019 launch of the Bermuda Hospitals Board Primary Stroke Centre. Pictured centre are Dr Victor Urrutia, director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Dr Francene Gayle, then director of BHB’s Primary Stroke Centre.

17 July 2022 Home Page, News

Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre temporary weekday hours

Friday 15 July 2022: There will be a temporary change to the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) hours on weekdays from Monday 18 July. Weekend hours will remain the same (9am to 9pm), but Monday to Friday and public holiday hours will be 6pm to 10pm, rather than 2pm to 10pm. Please note that an x-ray service will be available on Sundays only from 9am to 8:45pm.

Dr Chikezie Dean Okereke, Chief of Emergency, comments: “We apologise for any inconvenience the later opening on weekdays causes. This arrangement means we can cover the busiest hours of the UCC, while maintaining adequate staff in the Emergency Department and KEMH Diagnostic Imaging department where the sickest patients receive care. We will review the situation again next month and appreciate the community’s understanding.”

15 July 2022 Home Page, News

Blood donors recognised in Hamilton Princess & Beach Club raffle

Wednesday 13 July 2022: Two winners have been selected from all new and regular blood donors who donated between June 2021 and June 2022, with prizes donated from Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Long-time blood donor Janice Richards won a night’s stay at the hotel, and new blood donor Shauna Peyton won a champagne brunch.

“Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all our new and regular blood donors this year,” said Dr Eyitayo Fakunle, Consultant Haematologist. “With over 2,000 transfusions in Bermuda in 2021, our need for regular donors is growing. We are so grateful to those who regularly attend and encourage everyone to consider donating if they can, that it is wonderful they get to participate in the raffle. A big thank you as well to Hamilton Princess for the raffle prizes, and also for being a regular participant in our Corporate Blood Drive competition.”

“We are very proud to support and encourage blood donation,” said Tim Morrison, General Manager of Hamilton Princess. “It is very important for us to have adequate blood supplies for those in our community who need it, and so Hamilton Princess feels it is very valuable for us to contribute and support every year.”

Janice Richards has donated for many years, and started when encouraged to do so at work. “I started to donate when an email was sent round asking employees to donate blood and I’ve been doing it for several years. It is important for people to donate as it saves lives. It is needed for certain medical conditions, and I’m a perfect match for someone in Bermuda who has sickle cell and so I’m called when they are in need of a treatment.”

Shauna Peyton is a new blood donor in Bermuda, but has donated many times in her native US. “Blood donation is an easy way to help people,” she said. “If you can donate you should as you never know when you or someone you know or friends or family will need a blood donation – and you also get cookies!”

13 July 2022 Home Page, News

Public Advisory: Repairs to Corporation of Hamilton sewage line may cause foul odours inside KEMH

Friday 24 June 2022: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that repairs to the Corporation of Hamilton sewage pipe on Point Finger Road will be very near the Emergency Department and air intake units for the hospital building. Please note that as a result you may experience adverse odours not only outside the hospital but also inside.

Bermuda Hospitals Board apologises for this unfortunate circumstance. The Corporation of Hamilton is working assiduously to rectify the situation.

24 June 2022 Home Page, News