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Bermuda Hospitals Board Primary Stroke Centre screens all its patients for depression

Tuesday 6 July 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) will now routinely screen all its stroke patients for depression.

“Experiencing a stroke can dramatically affect a person’s life,” said BHB Primary Stroke Centre Medical Director Dr Francene Gayle. “Strokes can be debilitating, moving a normally functioning person to one with significant function impairment. This can happen suddenly.

“Such a drastic change in a person’s mental and physical condition is understandably often traumatic, not only for the person but also for their family. It’s the reason many stroke patients become depressed in the days, weeks and months following their diagnosis.”

“Depression after a stroke is common,” said BHB Chief of Psychiatry Dr Chantelle Simmons. “In addition to the direct emotional impact, post-stroke depression is also associated with poorer functional outcomes. The good news is that treatment is available and we will provide it.”

“Early identification and treatment of post-stroke depression is critical in optimising patient outcomes,” added Dr Gayle.

The Primary Stroke Centre has implemented a post-stroke depression policy that clearly details how patients will be assessed for depression, when they will be assessed and, based on the assessment, the treatment that will be used. Inpatient and outpatient treatments are available.

The new process involves various hospital departments and disciplines, including allied health professionals (occupational, physical and speech therapists), nurses, physicians, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.

“Implementation of this policy is another example of how we at BHB continuously strive to give the highest quality and safest care to our patients,” said BHB Chief of Staff Dr Wesley Miller. “We have a vision to pursue excellence through improvement wherever we can. Recognising and attending to the mental health needs of our stroke patients is not only good for our individual stroke patients, but by extension for their families and friends. It’s beneficial to our Bermuda community.”

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6 July 2021 Home Page, News

Bermuda Hospitals Board thanks Frontline Foundation

Friday 25 June 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board thanks philanthropist Sean McNulty and his charity, Frontline Foundation, for the generous donation of a $50 gift card to each member of staff. Mr McNulty presented the gift cards on Tuesday 22 June 2021.

In a letter to hospital staff he stated: “This is an everyone initiative, and is a small gesture from us to say thank you very much for all that you do. And particularly for your exceptional effort during this pandemic, which is on top of all the important things that you already do.  What you and other front line workers are doing for the community is really what we are thankful for; and is the main reason we have started this foundation in the first place.”

The gift cards can be used at more than 65 local businesses.

BHB Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson accepted the cards on behalf of staff and thanked Mr McNulty for recognising and rewarding the work of BHB staff.

She stated: “Our frontline healthcare workers worked tirelessly to treat and save patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their unfaltering commitment to service our community was on display every day. With their compassion, these frontline heroes continued to ‘pursue excellence through improvement, to make Bermuda proud.’  We are very pleased to continue our community support with the recent addition of the vaccination clinic, which has supported the Ministry of Health in its effort to improve vaccination rates in Bermuda. We are proud to be part of this important national strategy.

“Recipients of the gift include mental health and acute care staff, long-term care, nurse auxiliary, allied health services, outpatient services, environmental service workers, food service workers, transporters and multiple layers of administrative and support staff. We are appreciative of this recognition and are committed to our mission ‘to continuously strive to deliver the highest quality and safest care to our patients, every day’.

25 June 2021 Home Page, News

BHB resumes biopsies with its new 3D mammography machine

Wednesday 9 June 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce the resumption of stereotactic biopsy (biopsies that are carried out using our mammography machine) service today. The recent upgrade to the GE Pristina 3D mammography unit meant these types of biopsies had to be delayed until staff were fully trained on the new machine. That training has started, and today the first patients received their biopsies using the new equipment.

Imaging Services staff are excited about the upgrade and training, and the improvement this brings to their patients.

The first patient today, a 54-year-old woman, said she was pleased to have the procedure on state-of-the-art equipment.

She said:  “It was great. The staff were wonderful, they fully explained the procedure and I didn’t feel a thing. I was comfortable and relaxed and now am eager to get the results. I’m staying positive that it will be good news.”

“In diagnostic imaging, image clarity is what we get excited about,” said Chief of Radiology Daniel Stovell, MD. “The clearer the image, the better our ability to detect, diagnose and treat any abnormalities.”

BHB is the only provider of 3D stereotactic breast biopsy in Bermuda at this time.

9 June 2021 Home Page, News

Local couple donates $2,500 to BHB nurses

Tuesday 1 June 2021: Richard and Rebecca Wilson said the extent of their gratitude for the work of hospital staff in the fight against COVID-19 cannot be sufficiently expressed in words. The local couple donated $2,500 to nurses in May in an effort to convey their deep feelings.

They presented BHB Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson with the donation, which included a card with this handwritten message:

We are proud to recognise “Nurses Appreciation Month”. We are grateful for your dedication, hard work and perseverance during these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses are all making incredible sacrifices to keep us safe as they impact the health and wellbeing of Bermuda’s people.

Your compassion for taking care of every life is remarkable.

We can never thank you enough, but we would like to try by donating $2,500 to you, our Health Care Heroes!

With Love.

Ms Richardson said: “On behalf of our 500 Bermuda Hospitals Board nurses, I thank the Wilsons for this most unexpected and generous gift.”

1 June 2021 Home Page, News

BHB road traffic accident statistics for January to March 2021

Thursday 27 May 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) road traffic accident statistics for the period 1 January 2021 – 31 March 2021 show 96 cases were seen in February and 106 in March in the Emergency Department of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre.  In February ten people had to be admitted to an acute care unit due to their injuries. In March nine people had be admitted, three to the ICU.

You can download a copy of the most recent statistics below.

BHB RTA stats for the period 1 Jan 2021 -31 March 2021

2020 BHB Road Traffic Accident Statistics for the period 1 January – 31 December

2019 Bermuda Hospitals Board Road Traffic Accident Statistics 1 January – 31December

2018 Bermuda Hospitals Board Road Traffic Accident Statistics 1 January – 31December

2017 Bermuda Hospitals Board Road Traffic Accident Statistics 1 January

2016 Bermuda Hospitals Board Road Traffic Accident Statistics 1 January

 

27 May 2021 Home Page, News

Road closure on Friday 21 May at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital

Thursday 20 May 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public of a temporary road closure scheduled for Friday 21 May 2021 on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) campus. The closure will affect vehicular through traffic between Point Finger Road and Berry Hill Road from 8:30am to 4pm.

During this period, emergency vehicles and people attending the Emergency Department should use the Point Finger Road entrance. Ambulances will enter and exit on Point Finger Road. People attending the vaccination clinic should use the Berry Hill Road entrance.

KEMH and the visitor parking lots will still be accessible from both Point Finger Road (Acute Care Wing) and Berry Hill Road (General Wing and Agape House). Traffic will not be able to travel between the General Wing lobby roundabout and Berry Hill Road.

For your safety and the safety of others, please use caution and adhere to the barriers, signage and directions of the security officers.

Bermuda Hospitals Board apologises to the public for any inconvenience caused by the disruption.

20 May 2021 Home Page, News

Bermuda Hospitals Board performs first 3D mammograms

Thursday 13 May 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board performed three-dimensional (3D) mammograms for the first time on Wednesday 12 May.

Earlier this month, GE’s Pristina 3D mammography unit was installed in the Diagnostic Imaging Department of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, replacing the old 2D unit.

“There was a real excitement in the air with our mammography team,” said Imaging Services Clinical Manager Renee Butterfield.

“We are so proud that we not only have a 3D unit, but that our software is the most up to date of any on the island,” said technologists Carla Cann and Terri Farnan.

“We’re so pleased that everything is going to plan,” said Senior Imaging Technologist Terricca Smith. “All the staff are happy and so are our clients.”

Tanya Smith was the first person to have her mammogram using the new equipment.

“It was actually quicker than the last one that I remember,” she said. “It was great. I would say definitely come and get it done for sure. The ladies here make it so easy for you. You don’t even have to think about it. Before you know it you’re done and they are saying, ‘You’re done,’ and you are thinking, ‘Oh, ok that was so easy!’”

BHB upgraded its digital mammography unit to 3D to obtain clearer images. Research has shown that 3D mammography locates more cancers than its 2D predecessor and also reduces the number of false positives. The imaging unit creates a 3D picture of breast tissue using X-rays of several different angles around the breast.

A 2D mammogram creates a two-dimensional image from two X-ray images of each breast.

Installation of the Ivenia Automated Breast Ultrasound system will take place in the coming weeks. Combined with the new 3D mammogram it will provide better imaging of dense breast tissue.

“Better imaging produces clearer images and makes it easier to detect problems early,” said BHB Chief of Radiology Daniel Stovell, MD. “These upgrades represent a significant improvement in our service to the public.”

13 May 2021 Home Page, News

Hundreds of roses donated to KEMH nurses

Thursday 6 May 2021: Demco florist donated 300 roses to nurses at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) today, marking the official start of Nurses Month this year.

“We felt there was no one more deserving than nurses on the frontline of treating patients in Bermuda, to get a rose thanking them for their service,” said Demco owner Carmen Phillips.

“We are in awe of the work the hospital nurses do,” said Marguerite Clarke, Demco creative director.

Three boxes stuffed with the 300 individually wrapped orange, yellow, red and pink roses were joyfully accepted by BHB Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson.

“This is the second year that Demco have surprised us with this wonderful gift,” she said. “They called us about two days ago so that we could be on hand to accept them. It is a truly spirit-lifting gesture for all our nurses. No one is expecting it. As we deliver the roses, excitement erupts in the departments.”

“Everyone is happy. We thank Mrs Phillips of Demco for choosing to reward our dedicated, hardworking nurses in this way.”

“Last year as we were coming out of lockdown, I thought we had to give a big show of support to KEMH nurses, something to brighten their day. It was completely coincidental that it was also the start of Nurses Month,” said Mrs Phillips.

“I wanted to repeat it this year, especially after the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the stay-at-home and curfew orders in place. I thought: Let’s do it just ahead of one of busiest times – Mother’s Day. It brightens the spirt of the Demco team whenever we are able to gift our beautiful blooms to deserving groups!”

6 May 2021 Home Page, News

Sixty handcrafted gifts donated to BHB nurses

Thursday 6 May 2021: Sixty Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) nurses will receive a hand-crafted gift bag in memory of Bermudian missionary Freida Nusum, who died of COVID-19 in Panama last April.

Ms Nusum and her husband, Sheridan, were living in Panama as missionaries when the pandemic started last year. Unfortunately, the couple both contracted the virus and were hospitalised in Panama, both in serious condition. Ms Nusum succumbed to the illness. Her husband recovered.

Judith Lawrence was crestfallen at the loss of her sister.

“To help me recover and to honour Freida’s life, I decided to make a donation,” said Ms Lawrence. “Freida was a giving and caring person and so I thought a donation to nurses who have worked so hard during this pandemic would be fitting.”

A sampling of the handcrafted gift bags created by Judith Lawrence in memory of her sister Freida.

“I enjoy crafts and decided to make 60 gift bags. I used materials Freida had collected for me in her travels. Other family donated products to put in the bags – socks, candy, hand sanitiser, cream and tissues,” she continued.

BHB has made the donation a week-long event, holding daily draws to determine the winning nurses.

“We extend our sympathies to Ms Lawrence and her family on the loss of her sister,” said BHB Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson. “Our nurses are touched by this kind gesture. The recent surge of COVID 19 in Bermuda has had a huge impact on our frontline nurses and healthcare workers. Her beautiful gift bags will be appreciated by each of our nurses who receives one. Our nurses tend to the needs of patients at every stage of their existence – from birth through to end of life.”

Ms Richardson continued: “Just being there for patients, their carers and their families in these pressured times is so critical.  We thank Ms Lawrence for her generosity.”

6 May 2021 Home Page, News