Connect with us

News

NHIB Achieves Favorable Outcome from Patient Satisfaction Survey

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, November 30, 2021 – The National Health Insurance Board conducted a Patient Satisfaction Survey that resulted in a near 5-star rating for the health organization’s Treatment Abroad Program (TAP). Of 104 patients that received healthcare through the program, over 90% expressed satisfaction with the interaction and communication with NHIP case managers and doctors/health workers at their respective facilities during their time of treatment. The survey was conducted by volunteers who were given the names and contact information for beneficiaries who had accessed the TAP between January-June of calendar year 2021. Patients who were treated abroad multiple times during the survey period received a single survey.

Interim CEO of the National Health Insurance Board Tamera Howell-Robinson said, “Our aim is to ensure that our contributors receive affordable and accessible health care.” She added, “This survey was created to ensure that all areas are working together to give the best possible patient experience.”

The survey questions presented a broad scope in which the organization can use to map out its strengths and weaknesses. Nearly all patients – 9 out of 10 (91%) – had a very or extremely professional experience with the NHIP team. Most patients, (93%) had their experience met or expectations exceeded. Nearly 80% of the survey respondents experienced above average and far above average service when visiting their respective health care center.

The Treatment Abroad Program is designed to meet the needs of patients in need of medical care that is not provided on-shore. Patient experience is an essential area of review for the NHIP, along with clinical effectiveness and safety. Gathering this information from patients will help the organization make key decisions on how to develop and improve services.

Hon. Jamell Robinson, Minister of Health said, “The Treatment Abroad Program of the National Health Insurance Board is one that works and that is evident with the results of this survey,” he continued, “This survey tells us that patients are being cared for the right way and where there is room for improvement the NHIB alongside the Ministry of Health will ensure that those improvements are made to better service the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.“

This survey evaluated patients’ views (and the views of their caregivers/relatives where necessary), who are covered by NHIP and seeking medical attention at the various overseas locations which include Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cayman Islands and The Bahamas.

Continue Reading

News

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT THREATS MADE AGAINST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AND SCHOOLS

Published

on

May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.

We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.

The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.

All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.

The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF  investigations.

We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.

Continue Reading

News

Family of 16 yo Tourist claims negligence in jet ski death; TCI Coroner’s Court hearing evidence

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – The family of a 16-year-old who died in Grand Turk six years ago while on a Carnival Cruise into Grand Turk is a little closer to closure as the Turks and Caicos Islands Coroner’s Court has opened his case for an inquest.

“On Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. Police and Emergency Medical Officials responded to a two-jet-ski collision that left a 16-year-old male dead, near the Cruise Terminal in Grand Turk. Two people were involved in the collision. The second male did not receive any injuries. This incident is under Police investigation.”

That was the brief police report in the aftermath of Nicholas Twyman’s death.

In the comments dozens of residents and visitors claim to have been on the scene that day, as the boy was pulled ashore, some trying to assist while others looked on, horrified.

Coroner Mickia Mills called up the case on March 21, 2024 almost six years after the incident occurred. Mills is in charge of finding out what exactly happened that day in Grand Turk and whether there was any negligence or if it was simply a terrible accident.

That verdict will be for the coroner and her potential jurors to decide. However, the family has shared their version of what happened that day.

A lawsuit filed in Florida Courts in October 2019 (Twyman v. Carnival Corp) detailed the heartbreaking hours that led up to the death of Nicholas. In it, the plaintiffs, listed as Gyjuanna TWYMAN and Michael Twyman, claim that they docked in Grand Turk and were curious about using the jet skis; both parents and the son were told by the Carnival team aboard the ship that there was not a formal shore excursion in Grand Turk involving jet skis, but that jet skis would be available for rent by the hour.

The family from Indiana claims three jet skis were rented, one for Nicholas, another for his father, Michael, and another for a different passenger, while their mother remained ashore. Wet Money Enterprise is listed as the jet ski company.

The family says they were given little instruction on using the Jet Skis, especially their son who was a new rider.  The lawsuit maintains that Michael was not given any instructions other than being told where the kill switch was and not to ride too close to the cruise ship.

Sometime during his excursion, the young man crashed into the other jet ski. The family claims that neither Carnival Cruises nor representatives from the jet ski company responded. They say it was his father who spun around on his own jet ski, dived into the water for his son, and brought him to shore.

Once there, it was the young man’s mother, a registered nurse, who started emergency medical care.

When Turks and Caicos’s EMS did arrive after 15 minutes the family claims they were unsure how to use certain medical implements and had to be directed by the distressed mother.

The court documents list the cause of death for the young man as blunt force trauma and drowning, similar to what is listed in the TCI courts.

Coroner Mills, who took up her position in 2024, will oversee the proceedings which continued on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Continue Reading

News

Will DPP Office ‘No Show, No Call’ cause criminal cases to be Dropped?

Published

on

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

 

#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – On a bright and early Monday morning (15th April, 2024) in the Supreme Court before presiding lady Justice Ms. Tanya Lobban-Jackson and before His Honor The Chief Magistrate Jolyon Hatmin in the Magistrate’s Court, both courts were once again unable to proceed on its scheduled commencement time due to non or failure of attendance by the Prosecution of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Given the fact that this has now happened on more than one occasion, in both the Supreme and Magistrate’s Courts, judges and the learned Chief Magistrate have reached its final straw; they have cited the ‘no shows’ as a disrespect and a disregard for prompt and proper time management to be in attendance for legal proceedings.

From this reporters’ perspective, it appears the prosecution shows up when they like, any time they please and some are guilty of not showing at all without a call or message of explanation for the absenteeism.  The repeated instances have been called, “embarrassing” for the Office of the DPP, when defense counsel and the accused are present in the courtroom but the prosecutor is a ‘no-show, no call, no text.’

On at least two or three occasions, the Supreme Court judge was forced to return to her Chambers; exiting the court with a strongly worded warning, only to return with there still being no member of the Director of Public Prosecution present in court.

There has also been a promise that even serious cases could be dismissed due to this inappropriate practice.

In the final weeks of April, the country learned of a review by a KC out of the UK, who was looking into case progression at the DPPs office.  The Office has also hired a new Director, Philip Bennetts, KC, who takes office in the beginning of June, informed a TCIG media release.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING