Outpatient clinics at KEMH have moved

Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that its outpatient clinics which operated from the ground floor of the General Wing at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital(KEMH) have moved to 2nd floor of the Acute Care Wing.

The clinics that have moved are: Infectious Diseases with Dr Michael Ashton, Nephrology with Dr Raphael Loutoby and Pain Management with Dr Annie Pinto and Dr Charles Swart.

The visitor parking lot on Point Finger Road close to the Emergency Department will be more convenient for patients using the services.

Within the hospital clear signage is posted directing the public to the new location. Patients have been advised of the move.

Bermuda Hospitals Board adds General Consent form

Consent to Your Care

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce the introduction of the General Consent form for patients. The form is an addition to the list of required consents currently in place for patients.

Traditionally it has been assumed that anyone attending the hospital wanted treatment. Introduction of the General Consent form now formalises this relationship. The General Consent form covers routine medical care and non-invasive procedures. Simply put it is your consent to care. It is worth noting that BHB has always required consent forms for invasive procedures such as surgery and blood transfusions, and that use of these will continue.

BHB CEO Venetta Symonds explained the need for the form: “In our mission to provide exceptional care and a healthy community, we want to ensure that you are informed about your needs and that we have your permission to provide the best options available for health care diagnostics and intervention at the earliest possible opportunity.

“In fulfilling this mission we also need to know that every person that has been afforded our medical services or treatment, has given their permission to receive it and been apprised of their right to refuse it.

“We understand that no one wants to feel forced into health care decisions especially as these are often needed at times when we are most fragile and vulnerable.”

The General Consent form will become mandatory for all BHB patients over time. At present patients of the Diabetes Respiratory Endocrine and Metabolism (DREAM) Centre, Fracture Clinic and Allied Health Services are asked to complete it if they want to obtain treatment or services.

Members of the public do not have to sign the form but failure to sign it means no treatment or services will be given.

Processes are in place for those who are vulnerable and unable to sign on their own behalf. These processes will be extended and used with this additional consent form.

Members of the public can visit the BHB website www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com to review the form as well as frequently asked questions and answers (click the links below). Anyone requiring more information about the form can contact BHB Public Relations Senior Specialist Cathy Stovell or email public.relations@bhb.bm

• BHB General Consent Form
• BHB General Consent Factsheet

New hours at Craig Appin House reception

Bermuda Hospitals Board is advising the public that as of Monday 7 August the reception desk at its Craig Appin House location will open at 9am and close at 4:30pm. Craig Appin House is at 8 Wesley Street, Hamilton.
The new hours will be in place until further notice.

Bermuda Hospitals Board & Bermuda Road Safety Council urge the public to think Road Safety

On the eve of our annual Cup Match holiday weekend, the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Bermuda Road Safety Council are advising the public to drive safely and responsibly.

“We urge the public not to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Bermuda Road Safety Council Chairperson Erica Rance Mills. “Please remember you are also at risk of causing an accident if you are tired or distracted.”

“Our statistics from the first of the year up to 12 July revealed that 837 victims required attention in the Emergency Department as a result of road traffic accidents,” said BHB Chief of Emergency Services Dr Edward Schultz. “Eighty-two of those victims had to be admitted to the Acute Care Wing for treatment and 16 had to be admitted to our Intensive Care Unit.”

To date, seven people have died from injuries sustained in road traffic accidents.

“We would like everyone to have a festive but safe holiday,” said BHB Chief Operating Officer Scott Pearman. “Observing the rules of the road and driving with focused attention on the road will go a long way to keeping you and everyone around you safe and out of the Emergency Department.”

Call for O Negative Blood Donations

Bermuda Hospitals Board today is asking for O negative blood donors to donate on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Cup Match, to ensure blood supplies are available over the long holiday weekend. Donors are asked to call 236-5067 to make an appointment.

Dr Eyitayo Fakunle, Consultant Haematologist, comments: “We have a short donation week due to the Cup Match Holiday and a lot of people who regularly donate are on vacation. We need to ensure all types of blood are available over the long weekend, but we are in special need of O negative blood. While we hope everyone enjoys the four days safely, accidents can happen, and if your life needs saving by a blood donation we must ensure blood supplies are available. If you don’t know your blood type, but are willing to donate, please call the Blood Donor Centre as your blood donation is always welcome and new blood donors are always needed.”

Agape House has reopened

Bermuda Hospitals Board is advising the public that renovations to Agape House have been completed and patients are now back in rooms there.
In February the hospice’s operations temporarily moved inside the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) so that repairs; including electrical, plumbing and flooring upgrades, could be undertaken.

All patients were relocated to the renovated building on Thursday 21 July.

Those visiting loved ones housed at Agape House should note that the services have resumed operations from the original location – overlooking the General Wing of KEMH.

Visiting the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre and KEMH Emergency Department

Cup Match hours

24 July 2016: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) wishes the public a happy and safe holiday weekend. However, if medical care is required, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) in St David’s will be open from 4pm to midnight on Thursday and Friday, and from noon to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Please note that if your condition is serious, you should go straight to the Emergency Department of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH). There are very limited diagnostic imaging (x-ray) and laboratory testing capabilities at the UCC.

The UCC offers services to assess and treat minor illnesses or injuries that need immediate attention, but are in no way life threatening and are not likely to need surgery or sophisticated diagnostic equipment. This includes sprains, strains, scrapes, cuts, coughs, colds, earaches, bumps and bruises.

The UCC is open every weekday from 4pm to midnight. Regular Saturday and Sunday hours are from noon to midnight.

BHB also reminds the public that KEMH Emergency Department physicians see and treat patients based on the seriousness of their conditions, not in order of arrival. Emergency Department staff will tell you your level and expected wait time when you arrive.

Below are the approximate wait times for each level of severity:
Level 1: [Immediate]
Level 2: 10 to 15 minutes
Level 3: 30 to 45 minutes
Level 4: 1 to 2 hours
Level 5: 2 hours or more

If you need to contact the UCC, call 298-7700. To contact the KEMH Emergency Department, call 239-2009.

Legislated smoking ban for Bermuda Hospitals Board facilities

No smoking will be allowed anywhere on the grounds of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) or the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre. Starting Monday 1 August 2016 it will be an offence to smoke anywhere on these properties.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Seniors to institute the ban in compliance with the Tobacco Control Act 2015. The Act mandates that no smoking will be allowed inside or outside health facilities. It also stipulates that cigarette, cigarette products and smokeless tobacco cannot be sold in health facilities.

Patients, visitors and staff will all be bound by the Act.
BHB will erect no smoking signage and hospital security staff will take appropriate action with violators.

“As healthcare professionals we are well aware of the risks associated with smoking,” said KEMH Chief Operating Officer Scott Pearman. “We also recognise that the change will prove a major adjustment for many smokers, but believe all will understand that it is entirely the right action to take. At BHB part of our vision is to build healthy communities. This is another step in that direction ”

BHB Releases CEO Salary Data

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) Chairman Peter Everson said: “On 16 May 2016, Bermuda Hospitals Board publicly disclosed the chief executive officer’s annual salary for the previous five fiscal years through FY2015/16. This information is available on the BHB website at www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com.

“Today we provide the basic pay plus incentives for the chief executive officer position for the two years prior to the period already disclosed:
FY2009/10: $441,000
FY2010/11: $474,000”

Bermuda Hospital Board awards certificates to three culinary students

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is happy to announce the successful completion of its first culinary internship by three Bermuda College students; Jai-Onni Outerbridge, Farah Ming and Chioma Lawrence.

The program began this year after BHB Hotel Services Manager Jerome Swainson and Food Services Manager Lynn Fubler learned that as part of their training, Bermuda College culinary students were placed in various hotel and restaurants on-island.

Liaising with BHB’s Human Resources Department and the Bermuda College, an internship program was quickly established. Students had to apply for placement and this year three were selected.

“A rotational schedule was designed and implemented to give the students maximum exposure to patient and staff meal preparation and service,” said Mr Swainson. “I am very pleased to have been a part of the development of this program and look forward to great things to come in the future. The students represented themselves very well and we look forward our continued relationship producing a pool of trained Bermudian chefs in the culinary arts.”

We consider it a privilege to have assisted in the development of our future local chefs Jai-Onni, Farah and Chioma,” said BHB Assistant Food Services Manager Carol Gift. “They have challenged us to stretch our imagination just a little bit more, in ways that we normally would not have considered,” she added.

“It’s gratifying to see Bermudians cultivating their interest in this field,” said King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Scott Pearman. “This will certainly strengthen our ability to provide greater meal selection choice in the future and could well position us such that people look forward to hospital stays because of the great meals they get.

“I am pleased on behalf of the Bermuda Hospitals Board to announce that we have awarded Jai-Onni, Farah and Chioma certificates of completion for the 12-week internship programme.

“I am also pleased to have enjoyed some of the light refreshments they prepared for today’s reception and look forward to Friday when they will be joined by their fellow Bermuda College classmates and take over our staff cafeteria. They’ve already provided us with a mouth-watering menu for that occasion.”