UCC Temporarily Reduces Weekday Hours From 16 December to 31 January 2020

Thursday 12 December: As part of its winter planning, Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces that between 16 December 2019 and 31 January 2020, week time opening hours at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will be 6pm-10pm, rather than 4pm-midnight, and during these reduced weekday hours there will not be an x-ray service.  Weekend hours will remain unchanged during this time and the UCC will operate as usual with an x-ray service from mid-day to midnight.

Weekday hours along with a weekday x-ray service will return to normal from 1 February 2020.

The change keeps the UCC open during its busiest hours. However, the reduced weekday hours allow more staff to be present in the KEMH Emergency Department helping keep wait times down for a larger group of patients.

Chief of Emergency, Dr Chikezie Dean Okereke, comments: “We are planning for a busy winter period when flu and respiratory illnesses bring more people to the Emergency Department. Our focus is to prioritise the ED service during this time, where clinical need is greatest. This will help keep the ED wait times down and ensure patients with the most pressing medical needs are attended to in a timely manner. Our hope is that the shorter week day hours at the UCC will free enough staff to manage high demand in the ED, although we will closely monitor the situation throughout to ensure the care needs of our community are met.”

Dr Okereke adds: “Should the causeway close for any reason, the UCC will open in line with current practice. The reduced weekday hours are a proactive, temporary measure to better plan emergency care for the island over some of our busiest months. We thank East End residents for their understanding and we look forward to resuming normal operating hours in February.”

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