The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE government has extended operating hours at four clinics in New Providence to improve efficiency in providing primary healthcare to local patients, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez announced recently.

Dr Gomez, the North Andros and Berry Islands MP, said as of September 28 the Flamingo Gardens, Fleming Street and South Beach clinics will open for service from 8am to midnight. As of October 5, the Elizabeth Estates clinic will also open from 8am to midnight, he said.

Dr Gomez also said that the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) will be assessing the situation at the Agape Clinic “and all clinics in Grand Bahama” to determine whether they too, should have their operating hours extended to midnight.

Dr Gomez also said that the government plans to officially open a clinic in Golden Isles, as well as a clinic in the Fox Hill constituency, before the end of this month.

Dr Gomez made the announcement in the House of Assembly last Wednesday.

His statements came after The Tribune obtained photographs of long lines at the Flamingo Gardens clinic extending outside the building.

The Tribune understands that registration at the clinic is supposed to start at 8am with the doctors scheduled to be at work for 9am. However, officials at the clinic show up to work between 6am and 7am to get a head start on dealing with the queues, which form early as people want to be served.

On Wednesday, Dr Gomez said: “During my contribution to the 2015/2016 budget debate, I announced that Elizabeth Estates and Fleming Street clinics will open for service from 8am to 9pm, while healthcare services at South Beach and Flamingo Gardens will be extended to 12 midnight.

“In this vein, I am pleased to announce that effective September 28, the Flamingo Gardens, Fleming Street and South Beach clinics will open for service from 8am to midnight. Similarly on October 5, 2015, the Elizabeth Estates Clinic will open for service from 8am to midnight.”

“In preparation for extending the operating hours of these clinics, my (Permanent Secretary) Marco Rolle has been leading the preparatory discussions along with the chief medical officer and senior officials at the Department of public Health, the community clinics administrators, and the four clinic administrators and relevant staff, and the Chief Superintendent Elbert Ferguson, Superintendent Patrick Johnson and Superintendent Sturrup to discuss staff and security related issues prior to the late openings.”

Dr Gomez added that in the lead up to the dates for extended hours, he would lead a delegation of officials, including police officers, on visits to the Fleming Street and South Beach clinics to “further discuss our plans for extending the service hours of these clinics while addressing concerns that the employees may have”.

He said that on Wednesday, he would lead a delegation to tour both the Flamingo Gardens and Elizabeth Estates clinics for the same purpose.

“These discussions are essential to ensuring that as far as practicable, our staff is informed and that they can buy in and take ownership of what this government is doing as it strives to continue to improve the delivery of healthcare and service to our people,” Dr Gomez said.

“The PHA will be assessing the situation at the Agape Clinic and all clinics in Grand Bahama, to determine whether their hours of service should be extended from 9pm to midnight.

“Before the end of this month, I, along with the honourable member of (Golden Isles), will officially open the a new clinic in Adelaide. And I also expect to officially open the Fox Hill Clinic with the member for Fox Hill.”

According to Dr Gomez, during the first quarter of 2015, the PHA introduced the extension of hours at three clinics: Agape House, Eight Mile Rock and the General Practice Clinic at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

He said the extension of clinic hours would reduce the influx of non-emergency cases at the Accident and Emergency Department of both the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau and the Rand Memorial in Freeport.

It was also anticipated, he said, that the extension of clinic hours “would provide the public the opportunity to see their doctor for better management of chronic non-communicable diseases”.