The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Accident and Emergency Department at Rand Memorial Hospital in Freeport has seen an almost 20 per cent reduction in wait time due to the extension of clinic hours, according to Public Hospital Authority (PHA) chairman Frank Smith.

Describing it as a remarkable feat, Mr Smith commended the Grand Bahama Health Services (GBHS) for extending clinic hours in Eight Mile Rock and in Freeport, as patients not requiring emergency assistance are no longer going to the A&E Department.

Mr Smith, who attended the annual Governor General’s visit to the hospital on Friday, highlighted some of the GBHS successes and achievements.

Following recent challenges with radiology services, he reported that the Radiology Department now has the addition of a DM Radiologist who will assist in revamping of services to meet critically needed services, including mammograms. He also touted the Bright Journey II Eye Programme, which has been hailed as a success following 102 cataract surgeries performed without complications.

The surgeries were performed by a medical team from China in conjunction with colleagues at the Rand. The medical team also donated opthamological equipment worth $140,000 to the hospital.

Additionally, Mr Smith recognised the five retiring healthcare professionals for their contributions in meeting the objectives of the PHA. He said that Dr Jean Turnquest, Clinical Director of Psychiatry, has given exemplary and unselfish service from July 1977 to her retirement, scheduled for December 31. “She would have served some 38 years and five months,” he said.

“Dr Turnquest is a very special gift and blessing to the GBHS family and indeed The Bahamas. Through the years Dr Turnquest has been a strong advocate for people with mental health challenges and as a result of her mental health care initiative at the community level, Grand Bahama has seen marked decline in hospital admissions in the area of mental health.”

He also commended Shirley Weech on her second retirement after 11 years. Ms Weech retired as chief housekeeper in 1998. “She is a fine example of one who desires to give all of herself to service, as she was not content to remain in the sunset of post-employment and returned to her GBHS family in 2004, in the capacity of volunteer services co-ordinator and manager for Busybee Fundraising account and gift shop where for the past 11 and a half years, she recorded highly productive outcomes,” he said.

He also commended others including Administrative Assistant Enid Pinder, Nurse Valerie Mullings, Dr Gerhard Klassen, and Alexander Burrows, Chief Financial Controller who has served the longest at 47 years.