About Cathy Stovell

BHB Public Advisory: Hyperbaric chamber opens to limited service

Tuesday 8 September 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has re-opened its hyperbaric unit for limited procedures.

The hyperbaric chamber has two compressors. Only one is operating currently. This has been certified as safe to run emergency service for divers who may need it.

Unfortunately, use of the chamber for wound care cannot resume at this time.

BHB continues to address the issue but wishes to let the public know that it could be several weeks before chamber returns to full service and is certified as safe to use again.

BHB apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

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8 September 2026 Home Page, News

The Art of Being Human takes to City Hall

Tuesday 8 September 2026: One of the most anticipated art shows each year, the MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition, opens on Friday 11 September at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

The annual exhibition showcases the work of Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute clients who choose to take part and some artists from other programmes. The work fills the main gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts and features a variety of works in different media, including, watercolour, oil painting, acrylic, pastels, sketches and photography on this year’s theme: The Art of Being Human.

Bermuda Hospitals Board art therapist Rhiannon Fletcher explains: “This year, clients and community members voted on the theme: The Art of Being Human. There was an excitement and freedom surrounding expressing their humanness, however it may show up. Art is a powerful tool to help discover and release emotion, and to make meaning of oneself and the world. The artwork created for this year’s show reflects both individual experiences and our shared humanity.”

BHB Acting CEO and Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson says: “We’re honoured to offer the opportunity to our MWI clients, and others in our community with mental health challenges, to exhibit their work.

“Research shows that this helps people to build up their self-esteem and feel valued by those they know and the wider community. It also gives the public an avenue to purchase work they may not otherwise have been able to see and to engage with the artists.”

This year there are 100 artists exhibiting a total of 150 pieces. Some of the work is available for purchase and most of the artists will be  on hand.

Client Rosharondra Trott says art journaling saved her voice. In her poem Why Mindframe Matters, she shares her experience and explains how it’s helped her.

Below is an excerpt from the poem.

“Art journaling through Mindframe has been my healing journey, and I’m grateful.

Here’s why it’s a must — not just for me, but for anyone who’s ever felt silenced:

  1. It’s a tool to help. When words get stuck in trauma, color doesn’t. When talking feels like danger, paint feels like safety. Dot by dot, I’m coming back to myself.
  2. It’s a tool to express myself. My brown hand with pink nails and a purple sleeve remembers what it means to be alive. On canvas I can be messy. I can be lots of paint. I don’t have to be “neat” or “small” or “fine.”
  3. It gives me hope. Every painting is proof: I didn’t quit. The robot hand said “destroy it.” The human hand said “keep going.” Hope is a wet brush that still moves.
  4. It gets my voice out there. For years trauma stole my voice. Through MindFrame, my voice is on a wall. The Art of Being Human isn’t just a title — it’s a declaration. People will see it. They will feel it.
  5. It’s a way I’m heard. I’m not “a case” or “a file” here. I’m Dr. Ro. I’m seen. My story matters. My pain has color now, and color can’t be ignored.

This is more than an art show. It’s a lifeline. “

MindFrame PhotoVoice runs from 11 September to 6 October 2026 at the Bermuda Society of the Arts gallery, located on the top floor of City Hall. Admission is free to the public. The gallery is open from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

The public is invited to the opening event on Friday 11 September from 5pm–7pm.

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8 September 2026 Home Page, News

BHB Traffic Advisory: No through road on King Edward VII Memorial campus on Sunday 30 August

Friday 28 August 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) advises the public that there will be no through road access on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital campus between Point Finger and Berry Hill roads from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday 30 August 2026.

The closure is necessary to facilitate clearance of materials for upgrade works in the Imaging Services Department.

Vehicular access from Point Finger Road will end at the Acute Care Wing visitor parking lot and ambulance bay areas.

Vehicular access via the Berry Hill Road entrance will end at the General Wing entrance.

The areas will be cordoned off. Please observe erected barriers and directions from personnel onsite.

BHB apologise for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

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28 August 2026 News

BHB Traffic Advisory: Through road at KEMH closed from 12:30pm-2pm on Wednesday 26 August

Tuesday 25 August 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) advises the public that there will be no through road access on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital campus between Point Finger and Berry Hill roads from 12:30pm to 2pm on Wednesday 26 August 2026.

The closure is necessary to facilitate upgrade works in the Imaging Services Department.

Vehicular access from Point Finger Road will end at the Acute Care Wing visitor parking lot and ambulance bay areas.

Vehicular access via the Berry Hill Road entrance will end at the General Wing entrance.

The areas will be cordoned off. Please observe erected barriers and directions from personnel onsite.

BHB apologise for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

 

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25 August 2026 News

BHB Traffic Advisory: No through road on King Edward VII Memorial campus on 13 August 2026

Wednesday 12 August 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) advises the public that there will be no through road access on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital campus between Point Finger and Berry Hill roads from 7:30am to noon on Thursday 13 August 2026.

The closure is necessary to facilitate the delivery of metal rods for internal upgrade works in the Imaging Services Department.

Vehicular access from Point Finger Road will end at the Acute Care Wing visitor parking lot and ambulance bay areas.

Vehicular access via the Berry Hill Road entrance will end at the General Wing entrance.

The areas will be cordoned off. Please observe erected barriers and directions from personnel onsite.

BHB apologises for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

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12 August 2026 News

St George’s wins at MWI ‘Cup Match’

Monday 27 July 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce that team St George’s emerged the winner in the ‘Cup Match’ held at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI), this year.

The annual event takes place at Recreational Field at MWI. Staff and several clients with intellectual disabilities form the teams and take to the field for the day-long match. This year it was held on Tuesday 21 July.

“The event is actually recreational therapy,” says Yatana Hemmings, clinical director of BHB’s Intellectual Disability Programme. “Organised sport and leisure activities like this have been clinically proven to improve the mental and emotional health of people in addition to benefitting physical health.

“Cup Match affords us the opportunity to also incorporate Bermudian culture in this activity for our clients. It’s a truly enriching experience for them, and to a large extent, for us as well,” Ms Hemmings adds.

This year team St George’s made 105 runs, for the loss of 3 wickets in 8.4 overs while Somerset batted 104, all out.

“I was so happy that my team  St George’s won the game this year,” says player Carlton Thompson.

“It was a fabulous win,” says Chevon Burrows who captained the team. “My team did well. We scared off Somerset. We wish all the best to St Georges on Thursday and Friday when they play in Somerset.”

BHB Acting CEO and Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson says: “We’re pleased that our staff and clients created this and have made it an annual activity. We congratulate team St George’s with captain Chevon Burrows and vice-captain, Phillip James on their win and Somerset captain Raynell Richards and vice-captain Preston Swan on their sportsmanship.

“We also thank Distinct Apparel for donating team jerseys this year.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are some stats from the match.

 

 

 

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27 July 2026 Home Page, News

BHB Public Advisory: No through road at KEMH on Wednesday 29 July, weather permitting

Sunday 26 July 2026 -updated on Monday 27 July 2026 1:11pm: There will be no through vehicular traffic between Point Finger Road and Berry Hill Road at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on Wednesday 29 July 2026 from noon to 4pm, weather permitting. Vehicles can enter and exit at Berry Hill Road to the Berry Hill visitors parking lot or enter the Point Finger Road entrance up to the General Wing entrance.

The closure is necessary to facilitate clearing storm drains. BHB apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

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26 July 2026 Home Page, News

BHB Public Advisory: Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will close temporarily on Sunday 26 July 2026

Saturday 25 July 2026: The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will close on Sunday 26 July, for one day, and relocate to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department Fast Track.

This decision comes as current operational pressures, including staffing challenges and a high number of admitted patients boarding in the Emergency Department, with further admissions expected tomorrow and minimal anticipated discharges.

All fast track patients (Level 4 and 5 see Expected Wait Times table below) will now be assessed and treated within the ED Fast Track area. This change is intended to support improved patient flow and reduce waiting times for assessment and treatment during this period of increased demand.

If your condition is not urgent and you are able to safely wait to be seen by your GP, please consider doing so, as this will help us prioritise those patients who require more immediate emergency care.

 

Emergency Department
Expected Wait Times

Patients are seen and treated based on acuity, or the severity of their condition, and not in the order they arrive. Below are the approximate wait times you can expect based on your acuity level.

Acuity                   Wait Time

Level 1                  Immediate

Level 2                  10-15 minutes

Level 3                  20-45 minutes

Level 4                  1-2 hours

Level 5                  2 hours or more

 

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25 July 2026 Home Page, News

BHB Primary Stroke Centre achieves Accreditation Canada distinction certification

Tuesday 21 July 2026: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce that its Primary Stroke Centre, part of a clinical affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI), has received Stroke Distinction certification from Accreditation Canada for its Acute Stroke Services and its Inpatient Rehabilitation Services standards for a second four-year term.

A letter from Accreditation Canada announcing the news reads: “Achieving Distinction indicates that your organization has demonstrated national leadership in the provision of high-quality stroke care. We applaud your success and urge you to celebrate this achievement.”

Accreditation Canada surveyors interviewed Bermuda Hospitals Board staff, stroke patients, their families and organisations BHB partner with earlier from 22-24 June 2026. In their final report they said the stroke teams had done “an incredible amount of work” in developing  the programme and implementing stroke best practices, in a relatively short time.

“We are elated that we’ve received the Stroke Distinction Award,” said BHB Acting CEO and Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson. “Our Stroke programme is a top priority at BHB as we recognise stroke is an epidemic on the island.

“Our teams work around-the-clock ensuring the highest standards of care to our patients,” She added. “We met 100 percent of the criteria set by Accreditation Canada, a feat which reflects the world-class expertise of our staff and the services we provide.”

Ms Richardson continued: “Stroke distinction certification is the highest commendation a Stroke Centre can receive in the Accreditation Canada system and aligns with BHB’s vision to pursue excellence through improvement, to make Bermuda proud.”

BHB Stroke Medical Director Dr Srinath Meadipudi said: “This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise, and collaboration of our exceptional multidisciplinary stroke teams who work tirelessly to deliver the best outcomes for our patients.”

“It has been our pleasure to work with BHB in developing the Stroke Centre. We are proud of this collaboration and of BHB’s achievement in being recertified as a Primary Stroke Centre with Distinction,” said Victor C Urrutia, MD,  Director of The Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center and director of The Johns Hopkins Global Center for Organised Stroke Care. “This recognition shows BHB’s strong commitment to providing high-quality stroke care. Their dedicated team continues to work together using proven standards and best practices, helping to ensure patients across Bermuda receive the care they need when every minute counts.”

The Accreditation Canada Stroke Distinction letter and the Stroke Distinction Report are available on BHB’s website bermudahospitals.bm.

Stroke Centre History

In 2018 BHB recognising that stroke had become an epidemic on the island, took steps to address the problem. In July 2019, BHB launched its Primary Stroke Centre, part of a clinical affiliation with JHMI. Since that time, stroke patient outcomes have significantly improved. A more clearly defined process in managing stroke patients together with a robust national campaign highlighting the signs and symptoms of stroke, BE FAST, and the importance of attending the hospital immediately, have led to the success.

Photo: BHB stroke team leaders with the Accreditation Canada surveyors after the final briefing on 24 June 2026

 

21 July 2026 Home Page, News