Show On Homepage
Thursday 11 September: Bermuda Hospitals Board has had to cancel CPR training for the public that was scheduled to take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
-ends-
Wednesday 10 September 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Ashton as chief of infectious diseases and patient centred medical home.
Dr Ashton previously served as BHB’s chief of medicine from 2016 to 2023 before leaving the role for private practice, although he continued with BHB as a consultant infectious diseases specialist.
Chief of Staff Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Ashton back to BHB full time. As our director of infectious diseases and chief of medicine through the pandemic, he was instrumental in leading the hospitals and the community through a very challenging time.”
As chief of infectious diseases, Dr Ashton is responsible for all matters related to infectious diseases and epidemiology at BHB, including leading the organisation in preparing for future pandemics and other major epidemiological threats. He is responsible for ensuring effective infection prevention and control measures throughout the hospitals, and leading efforts to mitigate clinical risks related to infectious diseases and healthcare-associated infections.
“Dr Ashton is also taking on a new challenge in leading our Patient Centred Medical Home,” said Dr Neilson-Williams. “The PCMH is a critical service that assists people with complex chronic diseases who frequently need emergency or inpatient care. Most individuals who access the PCMH have more than one chronic condition and many are under- or uninsured. Helping them better manage their conditions results in a better quality of life for our patients and reduced demand on our Emergency Department and acute care beds.”
As chief of PCMH, Dr Ashton is responsible for overseeing the multidisciplinary service and expanding it to include remote management of patients. He will also collaborate with the chief of psychiatry on community mental health initiatives and will oversee population health management programmes.
CEO Scott Pearman said: “The threat of another pandemic is the new reality for healthcare organisations around the world. Dr Ashton has the expertise and proven experience we need to ensure our hospitals are well prepared. We are grateful to have him back at BHB full time, heading up this critical area. We also welcome Dr Ashton’s leadership in the Patient Centred Medical Home, assisting some of our most challenged patients to live a fuller, healthier life.
“As a Bermudian physician and medical leader, Dr Ashton has provided guidance and mentorship for local students through our Summer Student Programme for many years. We hope this new role serves as inspiration for the next generation of Bermudian healthcare clinicians and leaders.”
Dr Ashton first joined BHB in November 2011 as an infectious diseases specialist and hospital epidemiologist. He is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr Ashton earned a Bachelor of Science in pre med and psychology at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, and attended medical school at the University of Vermont. After completing his training in internal medicine and primary care as an intern and resident at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, USA, Dr Ashton completed a fellowship in infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology at Yale.
Dr Ashton will continue to see inpatients and outpatients as BHB’s consultant in infectious disease and epidemiology.
(Monday 8 September 2025): Bermuda Hospitals Board today advises that the road through the KEMH campus that connects Berry Hill and Point Finger Roads will not be accessible as a through road on Wednesday 10 September, from about 7:30am through to at least 4pm.
The road will be blocked near the Orthopaedic (Fracture) Clinic entrance (the old Emergency Department). People will be able to walk from the Berry Hill Visitors Car Park and access the entrance, but will not be able to drive through the KEMH campus. People coming from Point Finger Road will be able to access up to the General Wing lobby and Agape House.
The closure is caused by the delivery of new nuclear medicine equipment, part of the Diagnostic Imaging upgrade announced in February.
Friday 5 September 2025: Starting on Monday 8 September 2025 the vehicular drop-off point to the Emergency Department at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will be the Acute Care Wing main entrance. Ambulances will be using what is normally the public entrance to Emergency. This temporary change is to facilitate necessary physical upgrades to the Emergency Department.
Clear signage and traffic cones will be in place to guide vehicles and delineate parking zones. Security personnel will be stationed on-site to assist with traffic flow and ensure minimal disruption. Please adhere to their directions.
This change will be in place for one week. By Monday 15 September the drop-of points will revert to normal.
-ends-
Wednesday 6 August 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board today announced that as part of the diagnostic imaging equipment upgrade project announced in February of this year, the nuclear medicine equipment will be replaced starting later this month.
This is exciting news as the nuclear medicine equipment has lasted well, but is about 18 years old. The new equipment will have enhanced imaging capabilities, faster scan times, and enhanced visualisation and analysis helping to improve lesion detectability and diagnostic confidence.
As there is only one nuclear medicine machine, the service will be unavailable for over a month while the old equipment is taken out and the new equipment installed.
Based on current schedules and installation plans, this means nuclear medicine scans will not be available at BHB from 11 August to 24 September.
Although the majority of scans on this equipment are not urgent, patients who may require time-sensitive scans during this time will be referred to other imaging departments or overseas, as there are no other on-island providers. All other scans will be appropriately scheduled from later in September.
Notes to editors:
Nuclear Medicine involves the use of a small amount of radioactive tracers for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The scan provides information about how a particular organ is functioning and is useful in evaluating the functioning of the heart, kidneys, thyroid glands and gallbladders and indicating the presence or spread of certain cancers.
Tuesday 29 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) today advises that the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will open over the public holidays.
The hours of operation will be from noon to 8pm on Emancipation Day (Thursday 31 July) and Mary Prince Day (Friday 1 August). This will be in addition to its regular weekend hours of 9am to 9pm (Saturday and Sunday).
Chief of Emergency and Hyperbaric Services, Dr Chikezie Okereke, comments: “We urge everyone to prioritise their health and safety over the entire Cup Match holiday weekend. It’s a great holiday to be with friends and family, but please plan in advance to ensure you have your medications and supplies. Don’t drink alcohol and drive, and be prepared for hot and sunny weather if you are out on a boat, at the beach or at the game – drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, a hat and shirt.
“Our UCC service will be there for minor illnesses and accidents, and our Emergency Department as usual will be there for more serious conditions,” he adds, “but look out for yourself, your friends and family. You don’t want a medical emergency interrupting your Cup Match holiday weekend activities and fun.”
While the significant pressure experienced at the beginning of the month at KEMH has eased, CEO & President, Scott Pearman reminds people to take those ready for discharge home before and during the holiday period.
“Along with being responsible for your own health, please don’t forget family members who may be ready for discharge around the holiday period, and don’t bring someone in just for a safe place to stay,” he says.
“The hospital is not somewhere your loved ones should be for the holiday weekend unless they need to be here. This will cause problems for people with real emergency and acute care needs. Be safe yourself and do the right thing for your loved ones.”
Wednesday 23 July 2025: BHB partnered with Liberty Science Center for the first time this year to give a select group of its summer students the opportunity to watch live surgeries as part of their work experience at BHB.
Erin Basden, Coordinator HR Programmes
Coordinator-HR Programmes Erin Basden explains: “We secured 10 spots for a number of surgeries. It was great to be able to offer such ah meaningful experience as part of our summer student programme and we will be looking to continue this partnership in the future. It was very informative, eye-opening and offered our students another avenue to benefit their career journey.”
The live video events were held throughout June. The BHB summer students were able to peer into an operating room to see a kidney transplant, robotic surgery and neurosurgery, and were able to communicate with the doctors. There was also a Meet the Surgeon session with a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who joined live and presented students with recorded footage from one of her procedures and discussed her career path.
One of the 10 BHB summer students who participated was Bermudian Sanaa Simmons, a first-year medical student who is studying at the University of Liverpool, who worked in the Quality & Risk Management Department at BHB over the summer.
Sanaa Simmons, BHB Summer Student
“The opportunity to witness live surgeries provided by the Liberty Science Centre was insightful and inspiring,” she says.
“I particularly enjoyed observing the paediatric ACL reconstruction, and Dr Samara Friedman was eager to answer our questions and share her story. From growing up as an athlete, to employing her dexterous skills throughout her younger life, she explained how paediatric orthopaedic surgery was best fit for her.
“Moreover, the kidney transplant surgery was well delivered; the procedure was narrated in an accessible way.
“We became further educated on triage processes, organ rejection, and long-term lifestyle changes to patients – ultimately reinforcing how imperative it is to showcase empathy in the medical field.”
Thursday 17 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board has welcomed 45 local students with summer employment this year.
“The students are working in departments related to their specific field of study and range from clinical areas like nursing, the lab, imaging services and mental health services, to information technology and finance,” said Nyon Steede, director of human resources and operations.
This year 12 of the 45 are medical students, with seven studying nursing. Nineteen students are pursuing studies in a variety of other fields.
“We are pleased with the high calibre of young Bermudians joining us this year,” said Mr Steede. “Following the successful partnership with BHB’s Intellectual Disability Programme last year, we were able to place five of their clients into our summer student programme, providing these promising young people equal opportunity to be acquainted with and gain workplace experience.”
The summer students employed by BHB were selected from 141 applicants. This year’s cohort is aged between 20 and 29. The minimum age accepted is 18. Two of the students are in their first year of college, while the remainder have been in college or university for two or more years.
“BHB scholarship recipients are given first preference in placements,” said Mr Steede. “This year we have welcomed five general scholarship winners: medical students Jahmir Celestine, Storm Gibbons, Veronica Swan-DeGraff and Shani Tucker, and nursing student Sarae Botelho.”
CEO & President Scott Pearman said: “We hope to inspire and give some practical exposure to students in their chosen field of study through our summer programme. Eager to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals, we also want to entice them to return to us after graduation for fulltime positions.
“In addition, BHB has partnered with the Ministry of Education. Through the year we will be providing opportunities for students at Berkeley Institute – the sciences and healthcare signature school – to learn more about careers in health professions. In the coming years, we hope to see these students join our summer programme and be awarded BHB scholarships to pursue their goals.”
Students interested in becoming summer interns at BHB should look for application notices in late December. The deadline is always the last day of February, with next summer’s deadline set for Saturday 28 February 2026.
Thursday 10 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board moved to Alert Level 3 today due to increasing pressure on the Emergency Department and acute care inpatient units at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
In addition to rising numbers of people seeking emergency care and increasing admissions, a large number of patients who are medically fit for discharge remain in hospital.
Chief of Nursing Judy Richardson said: “Currently, 36 patients who could be discharged are still in acute care beds, while 21 admitted patients wait in Emergency for those same beds. In some cases, there are no appropriate community placements for these patients. For others, the delay stems from a situation at home.”
Chief of Staff Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “Unfortunately, the people who really need the acute care beds are not receiving them. Patients boarding in Emergency are cared for by the ED team in tandem with additional nurses and a hospitalist from the inpatient units, but we recognise this is not an ideal situation for the patient, the family or the staff.”
In addition to the pressure caused by medically fit for discharge patients not vacating inpatient beds, increasing numbers of patients have been seeking care in the Emergency Department. On Monday, 115 people presented at Emergency, the highest number in a single day this year. Average attendance is 85 to 87 patients a day.
Acting Chief of Emergency Dr Ranjini Patton said: “Generally, almost half of patients who come to Emergency are low acuity, meaning they could be helped by their family doctor or go to one of the urgent care centres. We see patients in order of acuity, so those who are low acuity will wait much longer than patients who require emergency care.”
The hospital is also under additional pressure due to rising levels of COVID-19 circulating in the community. An increasing number of patients with COVID are presenting to Emergency.
“If you think you may have COVID, take an antigen test from a pharmacy,” said Dr Patton. “Please do not come to the hospital seeking COVID testing.
“If you have COVID and are very sick, contact your primary care physician for advice. If you need emergency care, call us first at 239-2009 so we can take precautions to ensure you are cared for away from other patients and visitors.”
Mrs Richardson said: “Please remember our patients are more vulnerable to infections like COVID, flu and colds. All visitors are expected to wear a mask while at the hospital to help protect patients, staff and yourself. If you are sick – even if you think you might be sick – protect our patients and staff by not visiting until you are well again.”
Wednesday 9 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is offering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) courses for the public. BHB is an international training centre of the American Heart Association (AHA). All CPR courses follow AHA guidelines and standards.
Trainer for this course, nurse Kelly Pitcher comments: “Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, and the victim could be someone you know and love. More lives can be saved if more people know CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator, commonly called an AED.
“We’re pleased to support the American Heart Association and its important mission to increase survival from cardiac arrest. We’re asking all members within our community to learn the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR.”
BHB will offer the Heartsaver CPR AED course for $25 (cost of the booklet and materials). Training takes approximately two hours and is done to music. Stretchers will be made available for those participants unable to kneel on the floor.
Registering for the courses
Please note that this course is not appropriate for clinicians.
Heartsaver CPR AED Three sessions will be offered each day between 8:30am and 3:30pm. Chose only one.
| Saturday 16 August | Saturday 13 September |
| Sunday 17 August | Sunday 14 September |
Heartsaver CPR AED
| Day | Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 |
| Saturday | 8:30-10:30 | 11:00-1:00 | 1:30-3:30 |
| Sunday | 8:30-10:30 | 11:00-1:00 | 1:30-3:30 |
To register call 239-1821 or email coursereg@bhb.bm
Please include the time and date you would like to attend.
-ends-