Shooting down criticisms about its management of the current Peebles Hospital, the BVI Health Services Authority said it is capable of managing the additional duties expected with the completion of the new hospital.
It also disclosed that BVIslanders on scholarships will be specially targeted for employment.
Health Minister Ronnie Skelton last year said the physical structure of the new multi-million dollar hospital should be completed by August 2013, following numerous delays and a massive budget over-run.
Speaking with reporters yesterday, Chairman of the Health Services Authority John Cline said discussions have been taking place with government; mainly in relation to staffing and funding for the operation of the new hospital.
“We have to make ourselves ready for the transition and for occupancy. So, the discussions have been started. We have been looking for people that will help us through the transition period. We have been looking at staffing needs and staffing models in terms of what the needs would be, needs assessments when we get there, budgeting needs, all those things are being considered,” Cline said.
His views have been shared by Chief Executive Officer of the Authority Darlene Carty Baptiste, who further stated that efforts are being made to have BVIslanders join the expanded staff that will be required.
“We are looking at BVIslanders who received scholarships and are out practicing or participating in other areas to come back and be of resource to us here in the territory.”Carty Baptiste further stated that, as the Authority finalizes its staffing model for 2013, 2014 and 2015, priority is being placed on areas where there are shortfalls.
“The very first area of priority for us is our ANA. We are looking for specialists in those particular areas; ANA nurses, physician specialist… Another area of priority for us is our dialysis. We are looking at upgrading some of those positions and moving those nursing staff out of that particular area, and getting dialysis technicians to help augment as the services expand – not {to} expand the unit itself, but the services,” She said.
Carty Baptiste also disclosed that the recruitment of staff for the New Peebles Hospital will be done on a phased basis once the facility is turned over to the Health Authority.
Long wait; nature of healthcare
Regarding the issue of management, the Health Authority also said there is no truth to claims that it has not been doing well with the current hospital.
Its Chairman singled out concerns regarding the “long” wait for service, and stated that such phenomenon has been the nature of healthcare in several countries.
“The truth is that we do manage well. I think that healthcare is difficult wherever you go… So, sometimes when you come to Peebles and what seems to be sometimes a difficult or long wait, it’s just the nature of healthcare.
“But we are managing the challenges as we go along, and we are doing everything to make the system better. But I don’t agree with that opinion. I think we are managing the present Peebles very well. Of course our motto is to move towards excellence, and when the new hospital comes we will be quite ready and able to manage it in a very efficient and effective way,” Cline said.
