Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda donates new ambulances worth almost $250,000 to Bermuda Hospitals Board

Tuesday 21 April 2026: The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda (HAB) has donated two new ambulances each costing $123,765.00 to Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB). This brings the BHB ambulance fleet to 8.

The new vehicles are, like the two the HAB donated in 2017, Ford Transit type 2. Each contains a suction system, oxygen warning system, oxygen outlets, pressure, artificial breathing and patient monitoring devices.

“We are grateful to the HAB for these ambulances,” said BHB Acting CEO, Judy Richardson. “Costing $247,530.00, this gift is hugely significant, representing a savings of almost a quarter of a million dollars to us.

“It’s essential to have ambulances in good working order to provide lifesaving services to the public. The last time we had new ambulances was in 2017 and 2014. In both instances, they were generously donated by the HAB,” she added.

“The HAB is proud to be able to serve our community by providing funding for lifesaving equipment for our only hospitals,” said HAB President Glen Gibbons. “We know that demand is increasing for ambulance service and appreciate the challenges of maintaining these vehicles that are on our roads all day, every day.”

The HAB raises funds for BHB through their three business enterprises, The Barn, The Pink Café and The Gift Shop.  They also receive donations and annual membership dues from their members.  HAB volunteers work throughout many areas in the hospital, including information desk, long term care units, hospitality cart, assisting patients with their menu selections on the wards, as well as assisting overseas patients and their families.

In addition to their adult volunteers, there are also 99 junior members of the HAB, known as candy stripers.  These students enter the programme at age 14 and commit to a minimum of two years, with the majority remaining in the programme for four years.  These students are trained in all areas that the adults work in, as well as additional areas in the hospital including Dialysis, Lab, Gosling, Maternity, Environmental Services, surgical admin, Laundry, ICU and the Sterile Processing Department.  The students work every school holiday and give the adults a welcome relief.  On average 36,500 hours of service are donated to the hospital every year by HAB adult and junior members.

 

Pictured from left: Chief EMT, Walter Brangman; EMT, Tierney Gibbons; HAB Vice President, Suzanne Jeffrey; HAB President, Glen Gibbons; HAB Executive Committee member, AnneMarie Mooney; EMT, Kara Boyles; Chief of Emergency, Dr Chikezie Dean Okereke; Emergency Dept Clinical Resource Nurse, Micaiah Bramwell; HAB Executive Committee members, Allison Cooper and Joy Tyrrell; and BHB Acting CEO Judy Richardson.

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