Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Acute Care Project at PMH Getting a Shot in the Arm
#Nassau, August 15, 2018 – Bahamas – Plans to transform the Accident and Emergency Department of the Princess Margaret Hospital to meet Health’s mandate for the country’s Acute Care Project at PMH, South Beach and Elizabeth Estates Clinics got a shot in the arm August 8, 2018 as officials from the Public Hospitals Authority and TDG Architects signed a contract for the completion of construction documents which will oversee the work at the Accident and Emergency Department. The project which will be staged owing to the ‘live environment’ in the Emergency Room has a completion timeline of 18 months.
On hand to witness the signing was Minister of Health Dr. the Honourable Duane E. Sands who has been a long-time advocate for the implementation of a model that would foster enhanced synergies between the hospital’s Emergency Department and the South Beach and Elizabeth Estates Community Clinics.
Sands touted the fact that the Accident and Emergency Department at PMH performs a phenomenal service – as he put it, seeing between 55,000 and 60,000 patients every year many of them critically ill. He added, “Accident and Emergency has, for better or worse, not seen very much of a change in its footprint or its capacity since its last major renovation in about 2006 or2007; and prior to that, not since its construction.”
The Minister of Health, who has been personally involved in the project since its soft launch a few months ago said, “We recognize that there are significant needs for upgrades. And while the plan is to create a brand new Accident & Emergency facility; that is a number of years off. What we are going to do is freshen-up and improve many aspects of the existing Accident and Emergency, expand the footprint, improve the through-put, and ensure the experience that the public has in our Accident and Emergency facility is consistent with what they believe is the appropriate standard for a modern day Bahamas.”
PHA Chairman Julian Rolle and Managing Director Catherine Weech signed on behalf of the Public Hospitals Authority, with Carlos J. Hepburn, Principle Architect and Marcus Laing, Partner, signing on behalf of TDG [The Design Group] Ltd. The new designs seek to meet current building codes where applicable, install fire alarm and fire suppression systems and impact resistant doors and windows and ensure the use of low VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials; while also achieving an aesthetic consistent with the Critical Care Block. It expected that upon completion of the new work the efficiency, interconnectivity and overall public and patient experience in the expanded Accident and Emergency Department will be greatly improved.
Marcus Laing TDG Partner thanked the PHA for the opportunity to participate in the project, “We’ve done a few healthcare projects in conjunction with the Government, inclusive of the Critical Care Block. We are happy that Bahamians are being entrusted to do these projects, where we are just as qualified as anyone else who would need to be brought in.
Laing added, “TDG is supported by a number of engineering companies that covers all of the other aspects. We will be looking at everything within the bounds of the existing A&E. We will be looking at the civil works on the outside of the building, and a cover that will allow persons to get in with proper handicapped accessibility, weather proofing and security measures for the ambulance section of A&E. We are very happy to be doing this, we not only work here, we live here so we have a stake in making sure this done properly.”
Minister Sands stressed that the project requires the input and participation of all branches of the Public Health System. He further advised, “In the preparation for this Acute Care Project, involving Accident and Emergency on the one hand, and South Beach and Elizabeth Estates Clinics on the other, there had to be a back and forth, a dialog to consider how we could best optimize the existing Accident and Emergency facility, but at the same time upgrade the services so that people have a choice, a realistic choice, an alternative for the care of their loved ones. And so when the projects at South Beach, Elizabeth Estates and A&E are complete people will be able to decide after a long day whether they want to go to an Urgent Care Centre in their neighbourhood, or not too far from their homes, or to travel downtown to the epicentre, to ground zero which is Accident and Emergency.
The Health Minister concluded by saying, “I think we understand the dynamics, we understand the flow, and we recognize that a patient is a patient. It’s not a public patient, or a PMH patient, it’s just a patient. We have one healthcare system and my goal, our goal is to ensure that it functions as one healthcare system.”
Release: Public Hospitals Authority
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This is the sixth edition of the relays and the fourth time that The Bahamas has hosted the event, which actually made its debut in The Bahamas in 2014.
President, World Athletics, Sabastian Coe said after three very successful editions from 2014 to 2017, the World Athletics Relays has quickly become one of the World Athletics vibrant competitions, developing a culture of fun and innovation that gives it a unique flavour.
He thanked the Bahamas Government, the local World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 committee and the Bahamian people for agreeing to host the relays. However, his main thanks were to the “world’s best sprinters” travelling from all the continents to compete in preparation for the road to Paris, France, in two months’ time.
During the opening ceremony, the athletes were given words of advice from Carl Lewis, one of only four Olympic athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
He said, “Keep it simple, do not try to do anything extra. Do what your coaches said. Leave on time, leave on time, leave on time.”
The athletes and crowds were treated to the sounds and sights of Junkanoo at the end of the opening ceremony. The Junkanoo performers stuck around for the two days of competitions, playing for the sprinters as they competed on the track.
Teams competed in the Women’s and men’s 4x100m, and the women’s men’s and mixed 4x400m. A total of 14 teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 automatically qualified for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both days of competition were important, as day two offered another chance for qualifications for those teams unsuccessful on day one.
Bahamians were made proud as the country set a new national record during the mixed 4x400m relays thanks to the efforts of 16-year-old Shania Adderley, a student of Tabernacle Baptist Academy.
The team came first in their heat on Sunday evening after not being able to gain a spot for the Paris Olympics on the first day of competition.
Other sprinters on the team included Alonzo Russell, as well as Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his remarks at the Opening Ceremony for the World Athletics Relays 2024, on May 4, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis welcomed the special guests, athletes, officials, and “all lovers of athletics from around the world” to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in the “vibrant heart” of Nassau, Bahamas.
“This weekend, the world’s finest athletes gather on our shores to embark on a journey that is not only about speed and strength but also about dreams and determination,” Prime Minister Davis said. “From the serene beauty of our islands to the historic grandeur of Paris, this event marks a crucial path to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.”
He added: “Here in The Bahamas, we are no strangers to world-class athletics or the warmth and exuberance that such international gatherings bring. It is a distinct honor to once again welcome the World Athletics Relays back to our islands. This event holds a special place in our hearts, symbolizing a bridge between nations brought together by the universal language of sport.”
Prime Minister Davis noted that that year’s theme, “Paradise to Paris,” captured the essence of that journey.
“It is here, amidst the splendor of our sun-kissed beaches and the rhythmic sway of our palms that the chase towards Olympic glory begins anew,” he stated. “We are thrilled to offer a backdrop of unparalleled beauty, where every sprint, every baton pass, and every victory lap is set against the picture-perfect canvas of our islands.”
He added: “To our athletes, I say this: as you stand on the precipice of your dreams, ready to catapult yourself into the annals of history, know that you are part of a legacy of excellence and determination. This weekend, you are not only competitors but also ambassadors of your countries and the spirit of sport. We are especially proud of Team Bahamas, who carry the weight of their performance and the hopes and pride of our nation. You embody the spirit of The Bahamian people, and we are behind you every step of the way.”
Prime Minister said that to the international visitors, he extended “the warmest Bahamian welcome”.
“Over the next few days, as you revel in the thrill of competition, take a moment to bask in the beauty of our island,” he stated. “Discover why we proudly say, “It’s Better in The Bahamas.” Whether it’s the hospitality of our people, the tranquility of our waters, or the rhythm of our culture, you are in for an experience that captures the heart and rejuvenates the soul.”
“Let us celebrate the unity and friendship that sports foster, cheering every athlete and savoring the spectacle of human potential at its best,” Prime Minister Davis added. “I hope the races are swift, the results are inspiring, and the memories are lasting.
“Welcome to The Bahamas, the paradise where champions chase their dreams to Paris. As your host, it is my immense pleasure to declare the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024 officially open. Let the games begin.”
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