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News : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Re-Opening of Hawksbill Clinic
By Simon Lewis, BIS
Dec 27, 2014 - 12:11:15 PM

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The Hawksbill Clinic, which was closed recently for massive renovation, re-opens effective Monday, December 29, the Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville said Wednesday.

The work at Hawksbill Clinic follows renovation to the clinics at McCleans Town, High Rock, Sweetings Cay and Eight Mile Rock.

The recent broad-based upgrade to health services on Grand Bahama will feature, among a number of significant improvements, the expansion of operating hours for the Eight Mile Rock Clinic starting January 13.

Minister Darville said “as part of a phased development plan, the public health system on Grand Bahama will act as a template for the modernization and enhancement of healthcare across The Bahamas.”

He continued, “in preparation for the implementation of National Health Insurance in January, 2016, it is important that I mention that the upgrades to the Hawksbill Clinic are in alignment with international standards and consequently this clinic is now equipped to handle acute communicable/infectious disease cases, such as Ebola.”

He also explained that the Hawksbill Clinic was selected for this upgrade due to the fact that it can be effectively isolated for the containment of any potential infectious disease case, as there are a limited number of houses and commercial enterprises within the immediate vicinity of the clinic, allowing for protection of the surrounding communities.

Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority Herbert Brown informed that some $327,906.19 was pumped into renovating the Hawksbill Clinic and that the scope of work undertaken at the clinic was extensive -- including electrical refurbishment, installation of interior and exterior lights, drainage improvement, installation of new air conditioning units, repairs to the roof and the entire interior of the building, new equipment and more.

Further, he informed that beginning January 13, 2015, the Eight Mile Rock Clinic will extend its operating hours to 9.00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and that the PHA has undertaken the recruitment of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, support and clerical staff to effect the seamless transition to extended hours for clinic.

He also advised that Dr. Sally Taylor, a Bahamian trained as a family medicine physician, will lead the team and would take up residence on site in January.

Continuing, Mr. Brown also confirmed that effective February 15, 2015, PHA will introduce a general practice service at Pearce Plaza on Coral Road between the hours of 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

He said these new services will, for now, address the issue of long wait time for Urgent Care at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Rand Memorial Hospital.

“Ultimately, our Grand Bahama Health Services is poised to ensure the next phase of its local health systems development programme -- which seeks to consolidate and effectively deploy all local health resources through the strengthening of the roles of community health services -- to meet the needs of Grand Bahama, and the expanded role that will come as a result of National Health Insurance in January 2016,” he said.

Mr. Brown also took the opportunity to publicly welcome Ms. Sharon Williams back to Grand Bahama in the position as Hospital Administrator, after almost four years as Hospital Administrator at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in New Providence.

He also stressed that “all that I would have mentioned would not have been possible without the strong intervention and the oversight of the Minister responsible for Grand Bahama.”

Dr. Darville, who spent the early morning visiting clinics in west Grand Bahama also mentioned that Grand Bahama Health Services has expanded its fleet of vehicles for community health practitioners, which will enhance the services provided to the community of Grand Bahama.

He said further that the renovations, coupled with the upgrades to clinics and improvements to the infrastructure and services at the Rand Memorial Hospital, signify the Government’s commitment to the provision of quality health care in Grand Bahama.

The Minister said it was important to note that the reopening of the Hawksbill Clinic will offer immediate and material improvement to the quality of life for the more than 4,000 residents of the Hunters, Pinder’s Point, Lewis yard, Mack Town and Hawksbill areas, and will allow them easy access to primary healthcare without having to travel far outside of their communities.

 


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