Community invited to open up about BHB services

20 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board is inviting the community to join a conversation about improving services at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute at an ‘Open Space’ event on Thursday 2 February 2017, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Pier Six, on Front Street, Hamilton. Refreshments will be provided.

BHB CEO, Venetta Symonds, comments: “A lot is said about BHB and its services. Our staff work so hard to try and get it right every day and provide excellent care. But we know we can improve and achieve our new vision of ‘Exceptional Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community.’ This community gathering recognises the importance of the voices in our community and gives them a place to talk directly with us about how they think we can get it right more often. It is an event in which they will be heard and make a difference. BHB will not be presenting or setting the agenda. Attendees will come and set up conversations around what is important to them.

“There will be staff participating in the discussions, so questions can be answered if they are relevant to the conversation. But this event allows us to meet with people collectively, listen to what is important to them, act on the feedback and make improvements that will benefit the whole island.”

Mrs Symonds concludes: “This is the first time we have ever tried something of this nature – we are handing over control of the conversation to our community. It comes from a desire to open up BHB and start a two way dialogue to build better, trusted relationships with the people who use our services. We know it will take time for this to happen. This gathering is a first step, and if those who come find it valuable or we find ourselves over-subscribed, we will have more events like this in the future.”

Participants at the event will:

• Start conversations that matter to them: there is no set agenda. People should come prepared to raise what they think BHB can do to ‘get it right’, then put it on the agenda for discussion.
• Be heard: there are no panels or presentations, just open conversation.
• Make a difference: discussions will be recorded and feedback publicly shared. BHB will use this information to shape its priorities for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Space is limited to 80, so people are encouraged to book their place early. RSVP by emailing bettertogether@bhb.bm.

Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.

With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.

For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.

BHB welcomes New Year’s baby

2 January 2017: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) welcomed Ethelbert Bakurumpagi to the island on New Year’s Day. Born at 10:41am to parents Flavia Namazzi and Silverous Bakurumpagi, Ethelberht weighed in at 7lbs 8oz and was the first baby born on the island for 2017.

Both first time parents, the couple admitted that once contractions began they were nervous being away from their native Uganda.

“We’ve been working in Bermuda for about two years. We are both accountants – managers at Ernst & Young,” said Mr Bakurumpagi.

Ms Namazzi said: “It was scary most of the time not having our families and extended families around us.”

But Mr Bakurumpagi was quick to note that Maternity Ward staff were warm and patient. “The nurses here were great and they gave us all the attention,” he said.

Ms Namazzi actually attended the ward on 31 December but staff advised the couple that the birth was likely quite a few hours away, so they left the ward at midnight and went home. Returning in the morning, the parents said the birth was quick.

“I can’t thank God enough,” said Mr Bakurumpagi. “And I thank Flavia, she was really great.”

He said he named his son Ethelberht after the first king of England who converted to Christianity.

Ms Namazzi said: “He’s very peaceful and calm. Right now he should be sleeping but he’s lying there just looking at you.”

Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.

With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.

For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.

BHB welcomes Christmas baby

26 December 2016: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) welcomed Ivy Lily Mount to the world at 11:27pm on Sunday 25 December 2016. Ivy, the daughter of Timothy and Leanne Mount, weighed 8lbs 7oz and was 52 cms long.

Ivy is the Mounts’ second child. They also have a two-year-old daughter Gabriella. Mrs Mount said the two births were very different but both babies are Bermuda holiday ones. Gabriella was born at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at Cup Match.

“I was so happy that I was able to have her by natural birth and that labour was not induced,” she said. “The maternity ward staff were great! They were so helpful. You would think that they see babies being born all the time and that they wouldn’t be excited, but as she was coming on Christmas Day the atmosphere was celebratory. They were all cheering for me, which was helpful and really nice.”

Ivy was due on 22 December, and the Mounts said they actually expected her to arrive after Christmas Day.

“We had just finished dinner around 3pm when my water broke,” said Mrs Mount. The couple checked into the Maternity Ward around 4pm, and when labour started they still were not sure that Ivy would arrive on Christmas Day.

Leanne admitted that as midnight got closer she made a conscious effort to push for Ivy to come before the date changed. And she was successful. The Mounts said they would be bringing Ivy’s older sister Gabriella in to the ward today (Boxing Day) to meet her new baby sister.

Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.

With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.

For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.

Bermudian chosen from 20,000 as finalist for international award

27 November 2016: A Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) staff member is in contention for an international service excellence award this week.

BHB Network Solutions Analyst Colin Outerbridge has been shortlisted from more than 20,000 nominees worldwide for a WOW! Award. Mr Outerbridge was nominated in the Going the Extra Mile category through BHB’s online RISE Awards programme, which allows individuals to recognise staff members who have gone above and beyond to deliver exemplary service.

Winners will be announced on Monday 28 November at the annual The WOW! Awards Gala. This year there are 75 finalists in 15 categories. Mr Outerbridge is currently in London, UK, to attend the ceremony.

In mid-September a panel of judges interviewed Mr Outerbridge via Skype, asking a series of questions about the events which inspired his nomination by Dean Parris, BHB’s disaster manager.

“During Hurricane Joaquin, Colin came in to access the ITS network before going home and ended up staying for the duration of the hurricane,” Mr Parris said in his RISE Award nomination. “He dealt with any IT and telephone issue that arose across the entire KEMH campus. In addition when the HICC [Hospital Incident Command Centre] started developing phone issues, Colin came up with a quick solution and then implemented it to make sure that our service did not go down. Colin is a true leader.”

Mr Outerbridge told the judges it was an IT issue in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), caused by power fluctuations, which made volunteering to stay in lockdown during the hurricane worthwhile. Had the issue not been resolved quickly and successfully, machines used to monitor patients could have been affected.

“At BHB, I’m here for the patients,” Mr Outerbridge told the panel. “Doing this sort of work gives me fulfilment and I like to help people. That night, it could have been a family member of mine in ICU. It could have been a coworker or even someone in this room.”

BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said, “We’re delighted Colin is being recognised for his contribution to our patients and colleagues. When a hurricane strikes Bermuda, several hundred BHB employees leave their families to stay in the hospitals for the duration, ensuring patient care continues uninterrupted. Colin will represent all those dedicated individuals at the awards ceremony in London.

“We are proud of Colin and all BHB staff members who go above and beyond every day to achieve our vision of Exceptional Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community.”

BHB’s RISE Awards nominations are managed in association with UK-based The WOW! Awards and are evaluated based on BHB’s vision and values. Members of the public can recognise BHB staff members who demonstrate service excellence by visiting www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com and going to About BHB > Our Team > BHB Staff RISE Awards. Nominations are listed on the BHB website.

Notes to Editors
The Bermuda Hospitals Board is a quango (quasi autonomous non-governmental organisation) established under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act, 1970. It has a Bermuda Government-approved Board and a Chief Executive Officer, responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. At the heart of both organisations is high quality care to all patients.

With approximately 1,700 employees, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is Bermuda’s second largest employer. King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are the only healthcare organisations in Bermuda accredited by Accreditation Canada, an independent organisation whose role is to help hospitals examine and improve the quality of care and service they provide to their clients. In addition to providing an extensive list of services for the community, the Bermuda Hospitals Board is part of a referral network that includes some of the world’s leading specialist hospitals.

For more information, please visit www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com or contact the Bermuda Hospitals Board Public Relations Department at publicrelations@bhb.bm.