Roof Wetting for Eastern Urgent Care Centre Takes Place

‘Naming Competition’ Announced

The Ministry of Health and Bermuda Hospitals Board today celebrated a roof wetting at the Eastern Urgent Care Centre in St David’s and announced the launch of a naming competition for the new facility.

Government announced its intention to build an urgent care centre to improve access to care for the community and relieve some of the pressure on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Emergency Department in November 2007. A groundbreaking ceremony took place in July 2008 at the site in Southside, St David’s.

The Urgent Care Centre will provide medical care to people who have non-life threatening injuries or illnesses that require immediate attention such as sprains, cuts, bruises, or colds, earache and flu. If someone is seriously injured or unwell they should still go the KEMH Emergency Department where more extensive diagnostic equipment and surgery is available. Initially, when the Urgent Care Centre opens in April, it will operate out-of-hours, from 4pm to midnight in the week, and noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. A diagnostic service will also be run from the facility and will be open during the day for referrals for blood tests, x-ray and ultrasound.

“I am extremely pleased to be celebrating this milestone for our Eastern Urgent Care Centre which is on target to open in April,” notes the Minister of Health, the Hon. Nelson Bascome, JP MP. “We regard today as the beginning of the success story and in keeping with Government’s efforts to recognise those who have contributed to our community, the Ministry of Health will hold an island-wide competition to name the urgent care facility after one of Bermuda’s own.”

Details of the naming competition can be found on the Government Portal at www.gov.bm and on Facebook. Promotion for the naming competition will begin in earnest on 2 February 2009.

BHB Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Hill comments: “We are very pleased that this project remains on target and on budget. Many people across BHB have been involved in this project along with our construction and architectural partners and we are very pleased to be celebrating a roof wetting. While the UCC will open only out of hours to begin with, we will have a small diagnostic service open in the day so that people who need blood tests, an x-ray or ultrasound can have these conveniently close to home, rather than travelling to the hospital or other centrally located provider. It is another way we can help bring our care closer to the community.”

BHB’s Chief of Staff, Dr Donald Thomas III, adds: “While anyone with serious emergency medical needs, such as head injuries or heart attacks will still need the Emergency Department at King Edward, the Urgent Care Centre will give people with minor conditions who need medical help out of hours a faster, more convenient service, saving them the travel and wait at the hospital. The facility will be operated, maintained and staffed by Bermuda Hospitals Board, and will be required to meet the same Accreditation and patient safety standards as the rest of the hospitals. We look forward to welcoming the community through our doors in April.”

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