Thursday 2 January 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board is pleased to announce that there was a second baby born on New Year’s Day 2025. Erris Ahmira Simons arrived at 11:17pm weighing 6lbs 10oz to mother Simiah Caisey and father Errin Simons.
Simiah said Erris is her first daughter and baby sister to 12-year-old brother, Jaiden Simons.
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Thursday 2 January 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is happy to announce the birth of Aaryonn Xzavier Smith, the first baby born on New Year’s Day to Dannielle Joell and Boulevard Blazers centre-back Anthony Smith.
Hospital management and staff are celebrating as Danielle is a nurse aide at the hospital. “My due date was actually 17th of January but I have been coming in with pain recently,” she said. “They check me and then release me back home, but yesterday the pain was stronger and when they checked they said it was time,” she recalled.
Father Anthony, focused on the Shield Championship match against Somerset Trojans he was to play in, said he knew Dannielle had come to the hospital but thought it was the usual pains she had been experiencing. The centre-back was on the field by noon in Somerset, and at 1:03pm his son was born. Aaryonn weighed 6lbs 5oz.
“It happened too fast for me to get here for the birth,” he said. “But the whole team was excited. And we won,” he added.
Anthony rode in the traditional winning motorcade to Hamilton with the shield and was dropped off at the hospital to be with Danielle and Aaryonn.
“He is our Boulevard baby,” said his father, “the whole team is behind him.”
BHB CEO & President Scott Pearman noted: “We are delighted that our own Danielle is mom to the first, Generation Beta baby in Bermuda. Babies born this year are the first in a new generation of children that will include all born up to the end of 2039.”
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Friday 27 December 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that due to a shortage of staff, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will be closed on Saturday 28 December 2024.
The UCC will be open its regular hours of 9am to 9pm on Sunday 29 December 2024.
This temporary UCC closure is to ensure adequate staffing levels to safely manage demand for all patients who require urgent or emergency care. BHB apologises for the inconvenience.
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Tuesday 17 December 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board has joined Bermuda is Love in urging the public to cultivate and practice empathy.
This December is the third year BHB has erected green exterior lighting over the Point Finger Road main entrance of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to remind the public to take care of their mental health.
“Green is the international colour for mental health, and this year we invite the public to consciously practice empathy,” said BHB Acting Chief of Staff Dr Anna Neilson-Williams. “Empathy is more than simply helping someone. It involves seeing a situation from the perspective of another, understanding and, if possible, feeling how that other person feels.
“Compassion is a form of empathy that can have a beneficial impact on the mental wellbeing of the giver as well as the recipient.
“We understand and applaud the strong activism Bermuda is Love is undertaking, supporting both individuals and families in our community. We are pleased to echo their call inviting the public to join the #EmpathyInAction campaign this December.”
A Bermuda is Love spokesperson explained: “Through #EmpathyInAction, we aim to empower individuals to view Bermuda and the world through a new lens, fostering understanding of the challenges others face, such as poverty and socio-economic inequality. With this understanding, we encourage everyone to act with kindness and contribute to tangible solutions.
“When we help others – whether by offering our time, skills or resources – we not only address immediate needs but also gain insights into their lives and challenges. Participating in acts of service nurtures a deep sense of our shared humanity, of our connectedness to one another, reminding us of the strength in unity and collective effort.
“At its core, empathy is a bridge – a powerful tool for reducing division, resolving conflicts and creating spaces where all individuals feel valued and seen. By actively listening, volunteering and acting, we can strengthen our communities and deepen our connections to one another.”
Dr Neilson-Williams advised: “As you take a drive to enjoy the holiday lights this month, do pass along Point Finger Road and see our green holiday lighting. Use it to remember to pause to enjoy your life and know that that is good for your mental health.”
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Monday 16 December 2024: The Christmas holiday season, as joyful as it is, can also be stressful for many adults. Amid the increased pressures and demands, Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Primary Stroke Centre and Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute urge everyone to be mindful of their mental and physical health.
Psychosocial stress, excessive alcohol intake, overeating, physical inactivity and sleep deprivation are common during this period and can increase the risk for certain health conditions, including stroke.
“In the US, more strokes are reported from November to February,” said BHB Primary Stroke Centre Director Dr Srinath Meadipudi. “That’s why we are encouraging the public again to get to the hospital as fast as possible at the earliest indication that someone may be experiencing a stroke.”
BE FAST is the acronym to help remember the signs and symptoms of stroke. If you or someone you know suddenly loses Balance, experiences a change in Eyesight, suffers Facial drooping, weakness in an Arm or leg, changes in Speech where it may become slurred or not accessible, then it’s Time to call 911 and report to the hospital immediately.
“When people seek emergency care quickly, our physicians can administer tenecteplase, a blood-clot-busting drug, within the crucial time window,” said Dr Meadipudi. “This treatment greatly improves stroke outcomes and helps stroke patients achieve better recovery.
“Since BE FAST was launched as part of our public education on stroke, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people attending the hospital at the first signs of stroke. Every minute matters, and presenting to the Emergency Department as soon as possible allows us to deliver the best possible care to those in need.”
BHB thanks everyone who has listened, learned and taken action by recognising stroke symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention.
“Together, we are improving stroke care and saving lives,” said Dr Meadipudi.
For information leaflets on stroke symptoms, what to do in an emergency and what you can do to minimise your stroke risk, please visit the Primary Stroke Centre online at bermudahospitals.bm.
Wednesday 11 December 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that there will be no through traffic on the campus of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) between Point Finger Road and Berry Hill Road on Saturday 14 December from 7am – 9am.
People will be able to access the Emergency Department, the main Acute Care Wing (ACW) entrance and the ACW visitor parking lot from Point Finger Road.
Access from Berry Hill Road will stop at the Berry Hill visitor parking lot for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
To ensure safety, please adhere to all signage, barricades and directions of personnel at the site.
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Tuesday 10 December 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) will no longer accept payments at its Hamilton location in Craig Appin House on Wesley Street. Patients are encouraged to make payments online where possible.
The change takes effect on 1 January 2025.
Butterfield and HSBC Banks have included BHB in their list of payees for online payments. Clarien Bank clients can do an online transfer using BHB account #6000247519. Payees should include their statement number followed by their full name with any online payment.
Payments can be made with cash, credit card or personal cheque at King Edward VII Memorial Hospitals cashier’s window, Ground Floor Acute Care Wing from 9am-3pm, the Emergency Department Admitting window from 3pm-9am on weekdays and all day on weekends, and the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre during its opening hours – 9am-9pm Saturdays and Sundays.
“I also remind the public to speak with our accounts department if they are having difficulty settling their bill,” said BHB Chief Financial Officer Arthur Ebbin. “We will work on a payment plan with you.”
Tuesday 10 December 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that due to a shortage of staff, the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will be closed on Sunday 15 December 2024.
The UCC will be open its regular hours of 9am to 9pm on Saturday 14 December 2024.
This temporary UCC closure is to ensure adequate staffing levels to safely manage demand for all patients who require urgent or emergency care. BHB apologises for the inconvenience.
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Friday 15 November 2024: Cancer care service providers are working together around the clinical care of all patients with cancer and wanted to provide an overview of how new cancers will be managed while Bermuda Hospitals Board’s (BHB’s) two newly appointed oncologists go through the final stages of moving to the island.
Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) announced last week that two new full-time oncologists had been hired. Their immigration applications have now been approved and BHB is in the process of confirming start dates of the new oncologists.
Although BHB’s medical oncology capacity has been reduced, the clinical teams are all here to help and will remain involved for all those with cancer. Moving forward, all referrals for oncology patients should be sent via email to the BCHC Cancer Navigator at referrals@chc.bm. Any referrals received directly to medical oncology via the current route will be forwarded on.
This includes new consults, previously seen patients with new issues and any returning overseas patients.
As standard, referrals should include a referral letter, pathology report, imaging reports, lab work and any overseas notes.
Each patient will be triaged and reviewed through an additional oncology tumour board dedicated to triaging patient care. This will occur weekly or as needed for urgent patients. Recommendations will be documented in a tumour board note, and the patient will be followed to the next steps of their pathway.
Patients requiring further discussion with the wider multidisciplinary team will be presented at the General tumour board, which occurs each Friday.
Patients requiring referral overseas for treatment will have their HIAB form completed by the navigation team. However, the GP or referring physician will remain the point of contact for those patients and will be required to contact the patient to advise them of the tumour board recommendation.
The cancer navigator will then follow up with the patient regarding overseas referral information/process. Patients will be advised to liaise with their insurance company regarding which facility they should be referred to.
Patients who can receive treatment on the island will be referred to the appropriate physicians and monitored by the navigation team for any status updates/changes.
The Navigation team can be contacted with any other questions or concerns:
Michele Hypolite & Harriet Stuckes
441-621-1003
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Wednesday 6 November 2024: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that there will be no through traffic on the campus of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) between Point Finger Road and Berry Hill Road on Saturday 9 November from 7am- noon.
People will be able to access the Emergency Department, the main Acute Care Wing (ACW) entrance and the ACW visitor parking lot from Point Finger Road.
Access from Berry Hill Road will stop at the Botanical Gardens’ gate to KEMH.
To ensure safety, please adhere to all signage, barricades and directions of personnel at the site.
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