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Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre resumes normal hours

Monday 18 October 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board announced today a resumption of normal operating hours at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre (UCC). Effective Tuesday 19 October hours will return to 2pm-10pm on weekdays. Weekend hours did not change and remain 9am-9pm. . Last patient registration will be at 9:45pm during the weekdays and 8:45pm Saturday and Sunday.

X-ray service at the UCC will resume on Monday 18 October and continue as it did previously – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during opening hours.

“We urge those with minor injuries and illnesses that are not COVID-19 related to attend the UCC,” said Dr Chikezie Dean Okereke, Chief of Emergency. “The UCC should not be used to replace the care of your GP. Where possible, individuals should seek care first from their GP. In instances where this is not possible, patients should follow up with their GP after their UCC visit.”

18 October 2021 Home Page, News

Mental Health Clinic piloted at Hamilton Health Centre

Monday 18 October 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) in collaboration with the Department of Health is piloting a mental health clinic in Hamilton.

Located in the Department of Health’s Hamilton Health Centre on Victoria Street, the Mental Health Clinic started on Friday 8 October. The weekly service will continue on Fridays from 9am-noon.

BHB Acting Chief of Psychiatry, Dr Anna Neilson-Williams stated: “We are committed to bringing mental health services closer to those who need it and in settings where clients will feel more relaxed. In this regard, the Hamilton Health Centre is an ideal venue for the Mental Health Clinic. We are committed to protecting and promoting good mental health and well-being for all our patients.”

Currently BHB provides 2 nurses for the service, which includes mental health screenings, assessments, consultations and treatment.  As the pilot progresses, it is anticipated that a psychiatrist and psychiatric resident physician will join in providing mental health support.

Dr Neilson-Williams said: “Mental health support will be available to anyone who benefits from existing public health services at the Hamilton Health Centre including walk-ins and new referrals. In addition, existing Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) clients can also be scheduled for appointments.  Persons can be referred or self-present to the mental health clinic where they will be triaged.”

BHB Deputy CEO R Scott Pearman said: “This service aligns with BHB’s strategic plan to integrate healthcare services and the Ministry of Health’s Health Integration Strategy by providing mental health services in established healthcare settings.

“Our aim is to integrate with community-based providers to deliver mental health care and support in non-institutional settings. Embedding the Mental Health Clinic in the Hamilton Health Centre provides its clients better access to these services in a confidential and neutral setting.”

Earlier this year BHB piloted a mental health clinic in a general practitioner practice as well as at the Integrated Health Clinic at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre.

“We are pleased to partner with BHB in this pilot programme,” said Department of Health Director, David Kendell.

“Our staff will also benefit from regular workshops and training in mental health from the MWI professionals. This is an important aspect of the agreement as we work to provide a holistic approach to public health services for the entire community.”

For more information on the Mental Health Clinic at the Hamilton Health Centre on Victoria Street call 239-2261. The crisis hotline for all mental health services is 239-1111.

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18 October 2021 Home Page, News

BHB Public Service Advisory: Bermuda Hospitals Board in-person payment facility in Hamilton is closed

Monday 11 October 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board is advising the public that it has closed its public reception desk in its Hamilton office to in-person activities until further notice.

The Hamilton office located in Craig Appin House on Wesley Street has been convenient for many people to pay their bills.

“Due to the high risk of coronavirus infection we have closed in-person activities at this location,” said BHB Chief Financial Officer Bill Shields. “Bill payments can now be made by calling 239-2955 or 239-2954 Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.”

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11 October 2021 Home Page, News

Bermuda Post Office workers mark World Post Day with meals for 50 BHB staff

Friday 8 October 2021: World Post Day is this Saturday and Bermuda Post Office staff traditionally celebrate the day with a team building activity. This year the staff decided to pool funds and provide meals for hospital workers who have been uniquely stressed during the pandemic.

“Our team is not able to gather to celebrate this year, “said Postmaster General Sam Brangman Jr. “We still wanted to mark the day and felt it appropriate to do so by donating meals for those who work at the hospital, which has been inundated with COVID-19 patients in recent weeks.

“We know that the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda (HAB) work tirelessly to help the hospital, and felt that we would provide these meals through a donation to their Pink Café,” he continued. “Their General Manager Nancy Oughton was so helpful and quickly organised the whole thing. The HAB has provided 50 $10 vouchers, which we have presented to Bermuda Hospitals Board management.”

“On behalf of the management and staff of Bermuda Hospitals Board, I thank our postal workers for deciding to mark World Post Day with this thoughtful donation,” said BHB Deputy CEO R Scott Pearman. “Our staff are grateful for your donation and those of many others in our community. We are pleased that you thought to provide this through the HAB with whom we have a very close relationship – it is akin to two donations by offering this through them. Thank you.”

“It’s our mission to provide funding for the vital needs of our hospital,” said HAB General Manager Nancy Oughton. “We thank the Bermuda Post Office staff for providing for hospital staff through our Pink Café.”

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Pictured from left: Dean Hayward, Bermuda Post Office Delivery Post Person; Nancy Oughton, General Manager Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda; Sam Brangman Jr., Postmaster General and R Scott Pearman, Bermuda Hospitals Board Deputy CEO.

8 October 2021 Home Page, News

Make Nature A Part Of Your Everyday Life – Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Monday 4 October 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board and its Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute invite the public to join them this week in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is Nature – It’s Part of Your Everyday Life.

“Mental health is important to each and every one of us, not just those of us who have a mental health ailment,” said Health Minister Kim Wilson.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to focus on our mental health a bit more than we would normally. This is good. We are all, I believe, more open to discovering and adopting ways to protect and build resilience for our mental wellbeing.

“This week we, the Government, would like the entire community to connect with nature- perhaps in new ways and to notice how this makes them feel – perhaps you feel calmer, less anxious or just feel that you are in a better mood.

“Connecting with nature is easy to incorporate in your everyday life – you can have your lunch in one of the parks, tend to your house plants, listen to birds, smell flowers, write poetry about nature, hug a tree,  or enjoy walking or running along our beautiful railway trails and pristine beaches. Enjoy the slightly cooler temperatures and have a picnic with your children.

“This week, we ask you to do 3 things: – experience nature, share nature on social media and talk about nature. In other words, for this week: Make Nature a Part of Your Everyday Life.”

BHB Acting Chief of Psychiatry Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “There is growing research that shows a correlation between being in nature and improvement in mental wellbeing. Time in nature has been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, reduce nervous system arousal, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety and improve mood.”

“A UK survey this year coordinated by the UK Mental Health Foundation, found that 59% of the respondents felt going for a walk outside helped them cope with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and 50 percent felt that just being able to visit green space helped them,” said BHB Acting Chief Operating Officer and VP of Clinical Operations – MWI, Preston Swan.

“This shows that even small amounts of time in nature can reduce feelings of social isolation and be effective in protecting your mental health,” he added. “BHB invites the public to tune into The Daily Hour on Facebook from 8am-9am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week to learn about how nature can impact mental health in different age groups.

“We also encourage the public to make a point of being in nature this week and to notice the positive impact this has on their mood and mental wellbeing.”

MWI’s annual MindFrame PhotoVoice exhibition which features artwork from MWI clients, opened on Friday 24 September at the Bermuda Society of Arts in City Hall. The exhibition is free to the public and runs until 13 October.

4 October 2021 News

Support for mentally ill now stationed in Magistrates’ Court and Hamilton Police Station

Tuesday 21 September 2021: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce a joint initiative between its Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI), the Magistrates’ Court, the Department of Court Services and Bermuda Police Service. The collaboration resulted in the pilot of a new post: Liaison and Diversion Officer (LDO).  On 8 February, an MWI psychiatric nurse took station at the Magistrates’ Courts and at Hamilton Police Station in the new role.

Retired MWI psychiatric nurse Geraldine Smith agreed to serve in the post during the pilot.

Preston Swan, Acting Chief Operating Officer, said creation of the post is part of MWI’s efforts to be more responsive to community needs and meet people in the settings where they need assistance.

“The LDO provides psychiatric support to persons with mental health challenges,” he said. “The LDO also advises authorities where a diversion from the justice system for mental health treatment is appropriate.”

Since the start of the project, the LDO has had 336 encounters with individuals seeking support, 38% (129) were persons known to MWI and 23% (77) were current clients of MWI.  Not everyone took advantage of the service. Six percent (21) declined additional mental health support from MWI or the LDO.

“Attending court and interacting with police can pose unique challenges for some people with mental illness,” Mr. Swan added. “There are specific methods that can be used to effectively communicate with such persons, but it is complex as the methods vary based on the person’s particular challenge or diagnosis. Psychiatric professionals are best qualified to recognise this and interact appropriately.

“We are pleased to provide this service in the Magistrates’ Court and at the police station.”

Senior Magistrate Juan Wolffe said:  “Through the creation of the Drug Treatment Court, the Mental Health Treatment Court, and the DUI Court the Magistrates’ Courts has for some time been implementing therapeutic forms of jurisprudence.  In doing so individuals who have come before the Magistrates’ Court have been directed to helping agencies in order to address the root causes of their behaviour rather than being incarcerated.  The services of the LDO has taken these objectives a monumental step further by providing immediate and direct assistance and intervention to individuals who appear in the Magistrates’ Court with mental or physical challenges.  Since the project began the assigned LDO has been worth her weight in gold by triaging the complex and sensitive issues of individuals and thereby providing Magistrates with crucial information and recommendations which ultimately assists Magistrates in arriving at a resolution which is beneficial to all parties involved in the proceedings.”

“As Police, we interact directly with all sectors of our community,” said Chief Police Inspector Alexander Rollin. “As such we must be flexible in our approach to meet their diverse needs. It has become increasingly challenging for us to manage situations involving some of those who have mental illness.”

Chief Inspector Rollin added: “We have already experienced the benefits of having the Liaison and Diversion Officer and look forward to the continued partnership.”

21 September 2021 Home Page, News

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