emergency roomor acute
care wing, but rather
throughout services and
support which permeate
throughout the country.
Delivering such a range
of services is notwithout its
challenges, because there
are no other hospitals
on island. Bermuda, like
others throughout the
region, has been impacted
by economic challenges.
Maintaining state-of-the-
art infrastructure as well as highly-trained specialists
and other personnel to fulfill critical services comes at
a cost. As BHB Chairman Jonathan Brewin said, it can
be very challenging when there is a legislative mandate
to provide services without the convenience of funding.
BHB is tasked with not only providing health services,
but also ensuring service
costs are met in such a
way that is sustainable
and affordable for the
patients they treat. This is
a challenge in the current
economic
environment
and, under the guidance of
its chief finance officer, BHB
is implementing a financial
sustainability strategy to
ensure that it can deliver
services in the years and
decades ahead.
This will require hard
decisions to be made about which services are delivered
by BHB, and a process of reshaping the service profile is
already under way. A public outcry resulted when BHB
decided to withdraw its out of hours urgent care service
from the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre, because
it was operating at a loss. Although the government
requested BHB keep the service going, it has been
agreed that an alternative provider will be sought.
Construction of an acute care wing was completed and
B
ermuda, with a population of less than 65,000, has
historically enjoyed having one of the best income
per capita rates in the world. Tourism has been a
long-standing part of the economy, accounting for about
15 percent of its current gross domestic product. It is also
a leading international offshore financial center, and is the
third largest insurance and reinsurance center after New
York and London.
Political stability, a dependable energy infrastructure and
quality telecommunication systems all contribute to a high
quality of life, and residents and visitors also benefit from
having ready access to a full spectrum of medical services
fulfilled by dedicated and qualified medical professionals.
Acute care hospital and mental health services
are delivered by Bermuda Hospitals Board, a quasi-
staff to achieve the highest
evidence-based standards
in the delivery of services.
It requires extensive
collaboration with other
healthcare
partners
in Bermuda to seek
health system reforms
to ensure quality and
affordability. Strategic aims
at BHB are underpinned
through
organizational
values
that
include
respect for all, integrity,
serving the interests of
patients, families and the
community-at-large.
“We aspire to be the
best in all we do,” she said.
The
services
delivered by Bermuda
Hospitals Board and the
professionals
affiliated
with the delivery of care
save lives every day, and
improvements in services
constantly improve patient
outcomes and patient
satisfaction. Beyond the
patients who depend on such services, healthcare
also represents one of the most fundamental pillars of
Bermuda’s public spending. BHB employs about 1,800
people and is the second largest employer in Bermuda,
after the government. About 44 percent of healthcare
costs relate to the hospital, as it is the only provider of
acute care services.
BHBhas a long standing scholarshipprogramto support
future generations of healthcare workers. For young
Bermudans striving toward a career in healthcare, BHB
awards more than $100,000 each year in scholarship
funding. It also supports a variety of community programs
that promote greater awareness and understanding
of health concerns in the market. BHB services are,
therefore, not limited to what transpires in the lab,
autonomous,
non-government
management
body under the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act. A
government-appointed board is mandated to provide
strategic governance and ensure sound financial
management, while day-to-day activities are driven by
senior management and staff. BHB delivers acute care
services from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, a
small urgent care service from the Lamb Foggo Urgent
Care Centre, and mental health, learning disability and
substance abuse services from the Mid-Atlantic Wellness
Centre.
According to CEO/President Venetta Symonds, the
focus of Bermuda Hospitals Board is on the needs of
patients, and services are strategically planned around the
island’s healthcare requirements. Symonds said this drives
Caring for its Community
Bermuda Hospitals Board ensures the highest-quality healthcare
Bermuda Hospitals Board ensures the
highest-quality healthcare
CEO/President Venetta Symonds
BHB Chairman Jonathan Brewin
