Connect with us

Bahamas News

Public Asked to Seek Non-Emergency Healthcare at Community Health Clinics

Published

on

#Bahamas, January 30, 2018 – Nassau – Chief Hospital Administrator at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Mary Walker urges persons experiencing non-emergency medical symptoms to visit their nearest Public Health or Family Medicine Clinic, as PMH is currently experiencing a critical shortage of bed space, which is impacting the hospital’s ability to admit patients for on-going care at the Accident & Emergency Department (A&E).  Ms. Walker added that there has been a surge in the number of patients presenting with respiratory and other related illnesses.

“There also remains a significant number of discharged in-patients on the Clinical Wards and A&E, ‘Boarders’ for whom relatives and emergency contacts continue to be unreachable or unwilling to collect their relatives,” she said at a press conference at PMH, Friday, January 26, 2018.

JS Johnson Insert

“This not only drains vital hospital resources but regrettably has further impacted the hospital’s ability to provide bed space for new admissions.  The current overcrowding has also resulted in an increase in the waiting time for patients seeking care at A&E.”

Ms. Walker said the lack of nurses has compounded the issue of the overcrowding of A&E.  “In order to accommodate the persons requiring admission, we have to open what we call virtual wards, which would be commissioned spaces that are waiting to be renovated; and every time we do that, it is overtime on the part of the nurses.

“We are getting to the point now where the nurses are too tired to respond to that call.  In fact, we are not in a position to open up another virtual ward for that same reason.  We cannot staff it.”

To help with the situation, retired nurses have been called in, and nurses have been recruited internationally.  Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Carolyn Burnett explained that the lack of beds is also affecting the ability to carry out elective surgeries.  “Elective cases had to be cancelled today because we did not have the bed space to accommodate for surgery.  The patients will be re-scheduled, and all emergency cases are still being done.

Spence Security Original 1 - Copy

“As soon as the bed situation improves, then we will be able to do elective cases once more.”

Dr. Burnett said elective surgeries are not carried out on the weekends; but on Sunday evening, the medical staff will determine whether or not enough beds have freed up to allow for elective surgeries to recommence.

Chief of Service at A&E, Dr. Crystal Wells said the public should call A&E at 326-7014 if they are not sure where to present themselves.

The public is advised that clinic hours at the South Beach Health Centre, the Fleming Street Clinic, and the Flamingo Gardens Clinic have been extended from 8a.m. to 9p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Elizabeth Estates Clinic from 9a.m. to 9p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

By: Llonella Gilbert (BIS)

Photo caption: Health Officials held a press conference, Friday, January 26, 2018 to alert the public of overcrowding at Accident & Emergency (A&E) at the Princess Margaret Hospital.  Pictured from left: Principal Nursing Officer, Valerie Miller; Chief of Service A&E, Dr. Crystal Wells; Chief Hospital Administrator, Mary Walker; PHA/Acting Managing Director, Catherine Weech; and Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Carolyn Burnett.

(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

on

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas’ economy is in good standing according to reports from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute which released the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Series. They indicate that quarterly GDP trends for 2023 saw increases compared to 2022, a sign of recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.

The most significant increase was 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, and the industries responsible for the growth include Accommodations and food, construction and Arts.

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

Published

on

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Get your laugh on, March On show coming to Turks and Caicos with box office at IGA Friday and Saturday

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

After resounding success in the Bahamas, hit play ‘March On, The Story of Us’ has been inundated with requests to take their show on the road, and the first location they’ll be hitting is Providenciales Turks and Caicos with tickets on sale this weekend from May 3 to 5.

Magnetic Media spoke to Gea Pierre, playwright, who told us the TCI was a natural first choice for the cast and crew. 

“We started ‘March On’ in November 2023 and it was really an opportunity for us to tell a story, the story of the Bahamas and to encompass the nations that we have an amazing relationship with like the Turks and Caicos,” she continued “We really got a lot of people calling [for the play] from [the TCI], so much so we really had to pay attention.” 

The response to ‘March On’ at home and abroad was overwhelming.

“To say it went well is an understatement, even before we opened we got calls from Canada, from all over the US with people wanting us to come and perform.” 

And take the show on the road they did! Gea and her team have launched “March On: The Tour” and will be in Providenciales to perform on May 10th and 11th. It’s the first of a number of stops which include Nassau and several US locations. 

A ticket booth will be set up from today, Friday May 3 in the foyer of IGA grocery store beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and then again all day on Saturday, allowing residents to purchase with cash. 

Online tickets are available for purchase with credit cards. Then the full team returns on Friday, May 11 for the actual showing at 8 pm and their two showings on Saturday at 4pm and 8 pm. The venue is Brayton Hall, Providenciales under the patronage of Washington Misick, TCI Premier and First Lady Delthia Misick.

Describing the close familial relationships between the TCI and the Bahamas, for many on the crew it will be like coming home Gea told us, for others it will be a treat to visit for the first time, the places that their grandparents described. 

Tickets are only $60 for general seating and $75 for VIP seating. 

Gea maintained that the team wanted to keep the show as accessible to residents as possible.

As for why you should come out and see the play, other than the great price point:

“The way that people have responded to it is non stoplaughter, people have been moved to tears because there’s some emotion. It does not only lend to Bahamians. It’s a family drama, and anyone who’s ever been a part of a family is going to get something out of it, and something moving.”

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING