Minister Directs BHB: Keep Lamb Foggo Open
[Updated with video, PLP & BHB response] Health Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin has just announced that she has directed the Bermuda Hospitals Board to keep the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre open until an “alternative plan is worked out that meets the needs of the people of the East End.”
The Minister said she “anticipates no more than 6 months will be required to ensure that this plan is up and running.”
The press conference, which the Premier Craig Cannonier is also present at, is still underway. We will provide more details as able, and in the meantime all our coverage of the closure of the Lamb Foggo Centre is here.
Update 4.52pm: Photo of today’s press conference which as you can see was attended by the Premier and all the OBA’s east end MPs: Kenny Bascome, Nandi Outerbridge, and Suzann Roberts Holshouser.
The press conference has ended, and the full video is to come. Both the Premier and the Minister spoke, with the Minister stating she heard the “public outcry” over the matter, while the Premier noted he is from St David’s himself, and they have pledged to “leave no one behind.”
Update 5.04pm: Minister Gordon Pamplin said, “The Government’s primary mission and priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people of Bermuda.
“Integral to this mission is the need to make sure our health care system provides everyone with access to good quality care.
“The decision by the Bermuda Hospitals Board to close the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre on November 29 challenges the tenets of this mission. And the public outcry that has followed in its wake reflects it.
“It also reflects the very difficult challenge we face as a community between meeting people’s health care needs while doing so in ways that are financially sustainable.
“My colleagues and I have paid very close attention to what people have been saying about the planned closure of the clinic.
“We have listened to their concerns, we recognise their needs and we understand their fears, particularly as they relate to the needs of the East End in the event of a natural disaster that cuts off access to medical and hospital-based resources.
“As a result, and in consultation with my colleagues, I have directed the Bermuda Hospitals Board to keep the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre open until an alternative plan is worked out that meets the needs of the people of the East End.
“I cannot provide you with a timeframe as to when that will come about, but I want the people of the East End to rest assured that the facility will continue to be there for them until an acceptable and financially viable alternative arrangement is in place that meets their needs.
“We are going to make this situation work,” concluded the Minister.
Update 5.39pm: A 20-minute video of the full press conference is below
Update 6.11pm: In response to the Minister’s decision a Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB] spokesperson said, “This was a difficult decision to make, but BHB made its decision to close in an effort to better manage the costs of BHB as we face grave financial difficulties.
“Keeping the urgent care service running will add more pressure, both financial and with regards to resources, as staff had been informed and arrangements entered into to implement the closure. We will work to meet the directive, however, and will continue to seek more efficient ways to continue the service.”
Update 6.57pm: Shadow Health Minister Zane Desilva and St. David’s MP Lovitta Foggo tonight commended the Premier for “heeding the voice of the people” and temporarily reversing their decision to close the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre.
Ms Foggo said, “The people have spoken and the Premier has wisely decided to listen. It takes true leadership to heed the voice of the people and acknowledge that this decision was rash and short sighted.
“My constituents, thousands of people in the east end and Bermudians across the island have shown that there is strength in unity and that a people united will never be defeated.
“This isn’t a victory for any political party or any special interest group, it is a victory for Bermudians. It is for them that I will continue to fight to ensure that THIS OBA promise is kept and that the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre keeps its doors open permanently for the benefit of the people.”
Mr DeSilva said, “With the people’s victory in hand and Lamb Foggo temporarily remaining open we need to focus on ways to make sure that it becomes more efficient, more cost effective and operate at a surplus.
“The OBA have shown that they can work with us on this issue and together we should now expand this discussion into overall health reform with an eye towards holistic cost reduction without sacrificing quality care.”
Update 7.04pm: The protest march is still on tomorrow.
Update 7.17pm: Deputy PLP Leader Derrick Burgess said, “The people have spoken, the Premier has responded but the people have only won a temporary opportunity to keep Lamb Foggo open. Tomorrow at 12pm the protest is set to continue in recognition that a permanent solution be found.
“Lamb Foggo is operating at a surplus and there is no reason to close this facility. The people of the east end deserve to be heard and when they march tomorrow at noon to present their petition and push for a permanent solution, we believe that the OBA will be convinced of the need to keep this urgent care centre open permanently.”
Update 7.42pm: Video response from St David’s MP Lovitta Foggo, who praised the Government for the decision, but said the community is looking for a final solution.
Update 10.06pm: Initial reactions from MPs on Twitter:
OBA gets a serious case of whiplash after backtracking on their cold-hearted decision to close Lamb Foggo.
— David Burt (@DavidBurtMP) November 22, 2013
Power always resides with the people…their collective efforts forced govt to reverse its position and keep the Lamb Foggo Clinic open.
— Walton Brown (@waltonbda) November 21, 2013
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Articles that link to this one:
- One year later … | Bermuda Independent | December 18, 2013
- MP Lovitta Foggo: “Will The Promise Be Kept?” | Bernews.com | February 13, 2014
- Shadow Health Minister On Lamb Foggo Centre | Bernews.com | April 10, 2014
Wait, I thought that the Minister said she can’t tell the BHB what to do?
Well looks like a little “People Power” has taken place. People power is more powerful than anything. Folks just need to stand strong and tall on issues in Bermuda. But the questions remains will this “alternative” and “financially viable solution” after 6 months be to the benefit of the OBAubp friends and family plan?
I hope that folks still march tomorrow, as this seems to be a temporary fix, and in 6 months there no telling what will happen. Hope folks come out to support the East Enders in their wish to keep this place open. Govt needs to push advertisement of the use of this place, and encourage folks to use it, rather than KEMH.
The march is still on
They’re hoping that in six months things will have died down and they can sneak this decision in then. They know Bermudians have short memories and they’re probably hoping all this talk of surpluses versus non surpluses dies down by then.
I for one will be keeping an eye on this situation very carefully. I think there is more to this then is being said and that this seems like a plan to divert profitable business to a private entity. The OBA has some very UBP type behaviours slowly but surely slipping in…it’s like they can’t help themselves. The other thing that needs to now be looked at is how much money Gov’t spent on those new large vans that were all purchased from Bermuda Motors…
Wow, wow, wow, wow!!! They said that they have nothing to do with this decision, that their members on the board don’t have the power to make decisions on their own, and it came down to only one decision maker. LIES LIES LIES LIES!!!
Please, stop with the partisan political rhetoric. It’s one of the reasons that we find ourselves in this position.
The government never stated that “…they have nothing to do with the decision…”. Clearly this was a decision that the BHB made in collaboration with the BHB board (who operate independently). Given the information presented to the Minster from the Board, the Minister supported BHB’s position to close the facility based on consecutive year over year losses.
Hats off to the government, the Minister and the BHB for agreeing to look into a more financially viable option to have the facility remain open. Hopefully they will find a solution that meets the satisfaction of most if not everyone.
This latest decision did not come “…down to only one decision maker.”
Stop distorting the truth!
“The OBA responded by saying there are “ten members of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, plus one voting ex-officio member and three non-voting ex-officio members. Three people don’t make decisions for a Board of that size.”
– Bernews, Nov 6, 2013, “PLP: OBA Neglected To Mention Board Members”
You: This latest decision did not come “…down to only one decision maker.”
Today’s article: Health Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin has just announced that she has **directed** the Bermuda Hospitals Board to keep the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre open
You stop distorting the truth….
You’re the one distorting the truth. As always.
Because she said that she “directed” them does not infer that she did not consult before making her decision.
You can play semantics with the word **directed** if you like but it does not support your claim that a unilateral decision was made.
Peace.
One minute Pamplin agrees to closing UCC. The next minute she retracts her decision and issues a directive to BHB to keep the facility open.
Pamplin can you tell us what is really going on in your administration? There is proof that UCC actually made a slim profit of 100k in 2012/2013.
The OBA need to explain why the board wanted to close the facility in the first place. OBA championed transparency. It’s time to tell the public the truth.
OBA what a weak bunch of morons! Dam stand your ground.
Kenny Bacome bites his lip and thinks why did I help these jokers win St. Geo they will never give me a Minister seat.
lol,,,it all comes down to the vote,as a matter of fact the PLP wanted that place shut down too but they knew they were going to loose a lot of votes .so they decided to keep it open till after the elections been that they lost now they too are making a fuss…POLITICS
In light of the breaking news last night, of the full updated BHB report, the Minister had no choice but to make ‘an-about-face’. For one reason or another, it appears some members of the BHB witheld pertinent information.
Going forward, the Minister should reconsider Board appointees. A question of integrity, sincerity and or ulterior motives, comes into play. Can these same Board members be trusted into the future?
If not for the revelation of the ‘full’ updated BHB report, perhaps we won’t be having these discussions.
The Health Minister had no choice, trying to ‘save-face’. Trying to play it off as listening to the people, give me a break!
This is a preview of what’s going to happen to all the Sage report recommendations.
We wont have to ask anyone to turn off the lights on the way out – they’ll go out on their own when we can’t buy any more fuel oil.
You are absolutely correct!! This island is heading straight into the cess pit financially and we now have a government that is too week to stand up to the nonsense of the plp when it comes to finances??? The sage commission sure does look like a complete waste of time and effort!!!! Bermuda is going more broke by the minute and we now have a government listeningand caving into the voodoo economics of the the very party that put us in this mess????? Grow a pair OBA or we are all doomed!!!!!!!
Kangoocar, your still up to your pure nonsense comments. I am down in Australia for a month. It is really a society who looks to ensure that all its people benefit, and that the government works in the best interest of all and not only a few. I was hoping Bermuda would see the same from the OBAubp, but this seems not to be the case. The Kangoocars are jumping up and down like you, talking pure silliness. ahahahlololo
Australia accepts expatriates and welcomes in new blood. This helps to bring in new $$ that can be used to govern and pay for running the country.
Of course there are your redneck foreign-hating Aussies that believe that the World owes them a living, just like here in Bermy.
Stay there.
And while you are are in Australia, Bermuda is better off!!!
Yeah all you diehart OBAubpers are missing me so much….ooooh lolo…I understand…
Perhaps you should consider emigrating to South Africa, with your mentality!
Which means what, exactly?
Enjoy the ashes, but please don’t come back Petty Dump.
since when has Australia been fair to the aboriginies? all depends whether you are indigenous or not! Ask the original people whether they have been treated fairly in their own country..A mere apologyfor some of the atrocities including the rape and consequent birth of mixed children was hard to get all of their parliament to agree on..
and yes that was the pass history of the country, it has moved on, something the OBAubpers are not willing to do…so your account of history was in the past… lets fast forward now today!!
The level of hypocrisy you’re showing is mindblowing.
Seriously… do you not get it, or are you intentionally doing it?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10335584/Australian-education-minister-admits-Aboriginal-children-treated-like-rubbish.html
That is from September btw
No way. Dumb vs dumber .no backbone. Should never have been built. Respite Finem
Is it possible you might be describing the above picture. Mr. Kenny and Nandi have seems to have had a cover put over their mouths to keep it closed in regards to this issue. Mr. Kenny has been vocal on many other issues. He now under some heavy controls of the OBAubp to “Speak only when told too”, in regards to this matter, or he will be dealt with”…REALLY.
Need one in Devonshire In case a tree falls in front of my gate
I need one in Southampton. If I get a nasty paper cut I need to be able to get urgent care within a five minute walk.
They have a facility suited for you, 5 mins. away – MAWI, take advantage of it!
Making a “joke” at the expense of MAWI patients. Classy.
I would hope that this is only an extension based on giving the place a chance to support itself. If it does not then shut it down.
Given the time it takes to get attention at KEMH, only 5 minutes away, the UCC looks like a viable option, a 25 minute drive away.
“As a result, and in consultation with my colleagues, I have directed the Bermuda Hospitals Board to keep the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre open until an alternative plan is worked out that meets the needs of the people of the East End…..RECALL>>>>> Suzann Roberts Holshouser in her famous letter, said there was NO, NO need for the MPs to be consulted in regards to this matter. WHAT A 180 degree change around…wow….IS this about votes only, and not the real needs of the people in the East end?
The two are different Betty. Stay where you are.
It is a beautiful place, hope you come down under some day, and maybe you grow a wider perspective on current issues !!
Get bit by a funnel web betty. U plp die hards r thick…..smh. If your party hadnt blown away every cent bermy had it would never have needed to be closed in the first place. Heres a thought why didnt u pester the plp when they were in to fix the damn causeway so it didnt wash away in a storm. The hospital is just as far away from st davids as it is from somerset. It makes no sense to throw money at something that doesnt make money. But by your parties logic hey” they can just print more money” lol
This reversal does not bode well for what is needed to be done to get back to where Bermuda needs to be. Based on this, SAGE will never happen.
Maybe the solution is to make the UCC into a multi function facility, with a health clinic included. Still would be considered a luxury we can’t afford right now. The other long term solution is to rebuild the Causeway and then close the UCC.
Well i hope the great laverne and all those east enders taxes go up to pay for this. I live in the west end its no use to me, i think the east enders taxes should rise for this.
It is a known fact that not just the East Enders use this facility. It is used by folks in the West as well. If any taxes go up, it should impact all of us and not just a few. This separation of folks must stop in Bermuda, that only some benefit and others do not. We must come together as one, and stand strong together !!
Why have it if it’s not just used for Eastenders? Wouldn’t it be better to use resources to improve care for ALL Bermudians, not just a select few?
And I hope that the price of a visit goes up too to cover the cost of keeping it open. Maybe the East Enders will be more able to drive the extra 12 miles to KEMH if it costs them $1000 or so for the convenience of having this place open. I mean, come on, someone has to pay for it. Why should the whole island pay for it? I don’t see the East Enders up in arms about Sandys 360 closing….do you hear me crying about having to drive a few miles to get my swim on at the new pool?
OBA – I voted for you but you are about as fickle as my 13 year old daughter. Make a decision and stick with it!!
what about the votes? OBA knows what needs to be done,but they wouldn’t do it.. cause it all comes down to vote me in….
UCC has been operating in the black. So keep it open. Sandy’s 360 has not paid its bills, means they are operating in the red. So close them doors. Hold fundraisers in order to raise the funds required to operate the facility.
Oh No! Yet another weak Government. OBA where is your backbone. We are no better off with you as Government. You are jt as bad as the PLP!!! If there is no money – there is no money!!! This bandaid approach might side step the march tomorrow bit if you do not come up with a real alternative and soon watch out for the backlash when you finally grow some balls. Pat I thought you were a lot better than this. Where is the money going to come from now? I thought there was none. Bermuda we are in serious trouble. The PLP are unfit and you guys just don’t know what the heck you are doing. Well I Never. Will someone with brains and political astuteness please please please come out and help save our country. I don’t care if you are black, white or rangle with purple stripes. I don’t even care if you are young, not so young ir plain old. All I care is that you genuinely have the best interest of Bermuda and ALL who call this island home at heart. I am sick of this foolishness and I am tired of wanna be egotistical individuals profiling ad politicians . We need strong people who can dig us out from down under. And we need them now. Forget PLP Forget the OBA you are all useless!!!!
Selfishness and stupidity are a lethal combination.Because you live in the west Bermudians in the east should not be entitled to a facility which could save lives. Put the e in idiot!
Might as well do the same thing to the SAGE document as has been done with every other Government commissioned report which is put it on the shelf and pretend what was written never happened and our problems don’t exist.
This Government has now proven to be just as spineless as its predecessor in terms of taking the hard actions required to stop the financial bleeding that has all but left Bermuda in the position we find ourselves in today.
I hope the people vehemently protest any and all cost saving measures which are proposed to ensure the longevity of a prosperous Bermuda and her people for future generations. I hope all necessary cost cutting measures are ignored because of the outcry of some and that we keep the status quo in terms of spending what we don’t have.
After all that happens and we truly can’t afford to borrow another dime, then the next step is the IMF structural adjustment loan program (i.e. bailout). And once they get their grubby little fingers into your pie then you will know what true austerity feels like and I imagine you all would be begging for facilities such as the UCC to be closed for austere measures as opposed to the alternative. And no amount of yelling and/or labeling will stop them. Ask Jamaica, Haiti and Greece how that is working out for them and their people over the years.
Good luck BDA.
Agree completely.
The unwillingness to make the hard decisions, that will ultimately benefit our cash strapped island in the long run, is fueled by the Government (either one, that is) fear of losing votes. It happened under the PLP and now is reoccurring under the OBA. Votes before country.
The SAGE report should be used in the same fashion as our tax dollars these days. That means the document should be rolled up and smoked, because not one Party has the cojones to take the drastic actions required to ensure BDA’s survival.
@JUST OBSERVING
i assume you will ask everyone in the middle of the island to pay higher axes becasue they have king edward there. as a general rule, Urgent care centre treat patient smroe cheaply than hospitals
But the UCC average cost per visit stands at $422 versus the KEMH cost of approximately $260.
So apparently we got it backwards with our UCC.
Unfortunately the facts don’t support your case.
I dare this government try to make more wage cuts after this decision! Clearly, there seems no will to do the fiscally responsible thing. Our salaries being cut to fund projects like this makes my blood boil. Who will pick up the yearly $250, 000 shortfall of this enterpise now and in the future?
Totally agree, but there is way more than the $250, thousand shortfall to take into consideration. it actually amounts to $millions because what ever it takes to make the UCC break even, would be going to KEMH, therefore reducing the government grants to them!! I can’t believe people can’t figure that out??? I will say over and over, supporters of this mess don’t be upset when your taxes are raised!!!!
Whether we agree with this decision or not, it represents a tremendous victory for democracy.
After all the to and fro from the Minister, politicians and BHB, the very threat of action (not the action itself) caused the government to change course.
PEOPLE POWER!!
No, it’s a victory for stupidity.
We seem to have no chance if even the current government can’t make a decision.
will the last person to leave Bermuda switch off the lights
Funny you should say that. Do you recall Min. Mark Pettingil say something to the effect – ‘If you don’t like the way we govern, you can leave’.
What you waiting for?
Because he didn’t say tat you lying moron.
At least the OBA listens to the people. The PLP just ignored them.
Nah,
PLP flip flopped so damned much!
Then what do you call this debacle on the part of the OBA?
A victory for the people and a warning to the anti-Bermudian one turn OBA government. We will not accept so-called shared sacrifice for the many while the few and their families survive at the expanse of the rest of us;
We will resist the effort to down grade the Bermudian in their own country.
More threats of violence Alvin? I believe people can get locked up for threatening violence.
I see no threat of violence, just someone like me who will not tolerate a government going against the will of the people. You are a sick man sandy, by reading your comments I can see you think you are better than the rest of us and one day your ivory tower will fall.
Are you a racist and liar like Mr. Williams is, too? I doubt it.
Careful who you compare yourself to…
I assume you wouldn’t post something negative, something that was an outright lie about someone, based solely on the colour of their skin. Mr. Williams did. Mr. Williams has also, recently, called for “Civil War” against the elected government.
You wouldn’t do that, right?
Mike hind go play your fiddle !!
Nice one. Notice how you don’t deny that Mr. Williams is a racist who has lied and made threats of civil war against the government… Oh, no. You just try to dismiss me.
Not gonna happen. Especially from someone like you who can’t even have an honest conversation.
This article is not about mr. Williams.
Never said it was. I simply asked a question – and explained why I asked it – within a sub-conversation in the thread.
Is that not allowed? Or is it only not allowed when it exposes a hard to swallow truth about someone on your side?
Do you have anything to say about out the article. The OBA makes a decision and you and your goons still find a way to bash the PLP like they made the decision. Btw this looks like it wasn’t a decision made by the same people that have been making all the IB favored decisions. Is this the start of the divide?
Who are the people to whom you are referring?
Care to back up your claim?
I have my own opinion, don’t need evidence for an opinion! It seems as though you don’t have opinions when the OBA screw up. Again, don’t need any evidence for that as it is another of my opinions.
Keep it up
@JUST OBSERVING
(sorry for previous typoes)
I assume you will ask everyone in the middle of the island to pay higher taxes becauSe they have king edward there. As a general rule, Urgent Care Centre treat patients more cheaply than hospitals.
It’s the other way round. UCC costs about 60% more per visit, despite only providing first aid for minor scrapes and bumps. But don’t let actual facts get in the way.
FINALLY,a govt that listens to the people!
Bermuda needs a full time health minister !!!!!1not someone that has a nine to five job……..and else for Lea Scott and what the hell she gets PAID for doing nothing !!!!! come on OBA we voted for a change,she does not answer her email..she should not be getting paid for doing nothing.
Give her some space she is to busy driving around in her BMW to notice you Tina.
@EX PLP Voter,you are not, stop trying to pretend!!
@Kangoocar & Double Standards.
You are really an idiot and need to stop wasting the people of Bermuda’s air time with your nonsense. If you have landed here on this island by mistake – please leave ! and Go back to whatever rock you crawled out from under. I you are from here – you should be a bit embarassed and have a little more respect to understand that some things are worth the value. An the Urgent Care Facility has the potential like all other healthcare facility to be profitable.
This was a smart and able decision and I hope you don’t use politics as your rule for intelligence. Commonsense is the practical way forward for our island and your mindset and others like you (whether PLP, OBA, UBP and whatever other affiliations you may have) are just damn pathetic … just ANGRY to be ANGRY. And when you don’t get your way, you try to piss on everybody. Just hell bent on destruction and you need to grow up because I am sure you don’t have all the answers and I know you are not psychic.
You are only doomed … in your own mind.
Everything doesn’t always have to be a fight and for the OBA to make a decision which is not what you self centered individuals think is not in your favor – is not SPINELESS but sensible and in the best interest of the people you serve. You both sound like SPOILED LITTLE BRATS who would ruin this island without any thought of consequence.
Please get a life and work to make Bermuda better.
It is not always about OBA and PLP. It’s about BERMUDA !!!
Great lesson for muppets! Consign! The Oba deserves no credit. Why are the three Oba MPs at the press conference, yet have been hiding for the last 3 weeks?
Hello!!!
Some folks do have short & very selective memorys don’t they. Remember trying to get hold of a PLP Minister when there was a scandal to answer to? Always “off the Island” or did not respond. Now, whenever there was a photo op for a grand announcement for something that usually never did come to fruition, the whole party would show up smiling away.
First off, I am very much Bermudian!!! What i say is all about the betterment of Bermuda!!! It is fools like you that have no understanding of what this debt is going too do to us, I will not even bother to explain it to you because you will not understand it until it slaps you in the face, I can say that with ease because you don’t even know why you are not worth more now financially than you were six years ago!!!
Also, you are saying nonsense about me being doomed in my own mind!! I actually make a very, very good living here, but while doing that have set myself up that I can leave whenever I want to and be legal to live in the US, Canada or anywhere in Europe and never have to work again!! I have done this because unless more people learn the real ramifications of this debt Bermuda has no future, good luck in your future champ!!!!
Yawn..zzzzz
At the risk of sounding non partisan. This is an opportunity to show real collaboration and seeking a solution that benefits all.
God Bless Bermuda
Maybe I’m a bit salty because I once attempted to use the UCC and it was an epic fail. I live in Warwick and drove past KEMH to go there because I was told it’s less of a wait and better services down there than at KEMH. Lies… When I got there I was told that there was no doctor there at the moment to accommodate my needs because they only come at certain a times and that I needed to go to KEMH. All I’m saying is…. I don’t feel like my taxes should be raised to help facilitate a service that I won’t ever attempt to use again because an emergency can happen at anytime yet doctors aren’t there all the time. I’m already salty that my taxes have been raised so much over the last 7 years I’ve been in the workforce to help facilitate things like Gov. Assistance, yet another service I can’t/don’t use.
This tells the truth about the facility we’re talking about. It’s a part-time low level first aid post.
I never ride the bus, so should I have to pay taxes for the busses? The purpose of taxes is to pay for services. Nobody uses all the services that govt. provides. Do you think we should pay taxes only for the services we use? Silly rabbit!
Johnny, I believe you are the silly rabbit. I know exactly how taxes work. EVERYONE should be concerned about the amount of different services Government is trying to implement or already do offer because BERMUDA IS BROKE! Where the hell do you think they are going to get the money to fund additional services?! EVERYONE should be trying to CUT BACK – instead, we want more, always wanting more… This island is going to tank if it doesn’t start moving in the opposite direction. This looks like the PLP all over again – giving the people exactly what they want and what they ask for, forgetting that it cost money and we are not sitting on a bottomless goldmine. SMDH.
Kenny must have spoke to The Premier.
Instead of shooting out our mouths, why not come up with a viable solution. We were thinking how about closing the St. Georges clinic and merging them with Lamb Foggo Urgent Care. How about a couple of doctors open up their practice by using this facility and still keep the Urgent care center opened for business with the hours they are operating now. This way the doctors will help pay for the expenses. These are just a few but if people start putting their thinking caps on, I’m sure they can come up with much more. I live in the East end and have used this facility numerous times. I was treated there last week with a small procedure that was extremely needed at the time. If I would have gone to KEMH I would have waited a long time and suffered greatly.
Will the previous minister of health please inform us how much the last
CEO and Chief of Staff of KEMH were paid (salary and housing and airfares included) This might help to explain why there is no money. I will not hold my breath.
Both business cases–the one to open in 2007 and the one to close–have been posted on the BHB website since October 31. So no, PLP MPs, you did not have a “secret, leaked report.” Nor have there been secret meetings with “unnamed physicians.” But you do love a conspiracy to stir up your East End voters. As was noted in the Executive Summary Business Case, which was posted, a small surplus of about $100,000 was made in 2013/14. Unfortunately, as also noted in the report, centralised costs of running the facility were expected to wipe this surplus out. Centralised costs include insurance and covering staff sick leave and vacation, and daily scheduling and management of the facility, and they were not included. These costs would have been saved by BHB not providing the service there any more. The small surplus seen year to date in this fiscal year would also be wiped out by these centralised costs. The PLP spin on this makes you dizzy. And as for their solutions? Increasing unncessary diagnostic services to generate revenue–which was the PLP philosophy for 6 years–only leads to skyrocketing healthcare costs for the entire community.And as for looking for another way to utilize the clinic? Duh. The BHB and the MOH are already on it.
If we assume all of your post is true, how do you explain the turnaround by the Premier and Minister?
If the decision was so clear cut and made by BHB, why change it? Also, if the closing was a BHB decision, why is the change of mind being announced by the OBA team without any BHB personnel present?
We all need an explanation of what went wrong.
Politics is what went wrong.
@Kangaroocar.
I am a graduate student and ONE of my first degree many years back was in business and I understand exactly what our debt position is. Probably way better than you. But I do understand business … very well. But I see that hasn’t paid off well for you and more schooling is actually needed.
It is a very good thing that we still have MAWI opened for potential patients like you. Your issues are definitely in your mind and money does not make you smart or intelligent. They always say a fool and is money are soon parted. Nobody cares what you have … all we are interested is if you can contribute to making Bermuda better and from your comment – I don’t think so. There are too many angry issues with you but hopefully you can get some help as we improve our Healthcare.
Cheers and best wishes !!!
Cheers !!!
Oh please, is that the best you can do? Nothing wrong with a little sarcastic, maybe insulting, jab here & there but can’t you do better than that & actually speak just a little to the subject?
You are not being clever. You are showing extreme small mindedness.
LOL after reading some of the comments on here, its obvious there is a new red-coloured kool-aid in town….
And a whole lot of molehills you guys can turn into mountains…
(Btw, your side – even though they’ve used the phrase themselves – have said that “koolade drinkers” is a racist phrase… Just saying. Is this another “it’s ok when we do it” thing?)
The OBA continues to stack things up by way of their dodging. I can’t wait until the CFO’s situation starts to hit the fan. The savings from her admin leave and her interim secondee replacement would have kept the UCC unit at a breakeven point for about 2 years. And they really want us to believe that it is about being financially responsible. So selective.
Promised to stop wastage but deliver a budget that is in excess of the PLP’s last 2 budgets.
Promised to cut the debt but embark on a 3 year budget that provides for significant increase in debt.
Complain about the PLP traveling but the travel budget is some departments is more. 2 years suspension of term limits but then abolish the altogether.
No decriminalization of Marijuana mentioned in election promises or 1st throne speech but walla, it is on the agenda.
10% pay cut, right! Then increase the # of ministers by 1 and wipe out the pay cut.
And most recently, we are told that the BHB made the decision and now the Minister had directed the BHB. Why couldn’t she have directed them before.
The list goes on.
Doesn’t anyone see a trend. I wish we will wake up and see the lies and not excuse it because they are not the PLP. We must hold our politicians accountable.
You often reference the CFO situation at BHB. What do you think will be explosive except for the fact the BHB is currently paying the salaries of 2 CFOs, which could be as high as $650,000 in total?
Rookies.
Good news, but keep the pressure on to keep it open.
Looks like there was a meeting called for PLP bloggers at Alaska Hall. The string pullers have sent them on an anti OBA mission. They think they finally might have something to shoot at.
This too shall pass.
For the mess we are in,I will never vote for the PLP again.
UCC closure is very likely a result of KEMH’s mis management of finances…Just a short time ago, two patient rooms on Curtis Ward was renovated and upgraded at a cost of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. These two rooms are now being demolished to make way for the connection to the new Acute Wing. Very little forethought from many on KEMH’s 5th floor suites (Administration offices)
So now that this ‘non-issue’ has been resolved, is Craig Cannonier still considered a ‘surrogate’? LOL haven’t heard that word for awhile
@ Swing voter
Surely you are not ‘gloating’ over this situation. This is a political mess for OBA!!
Minister Gordon first indicated she had no input for the decision to close. It has been confirmed that no government MPs in St Georges (1, 2 and 4) were consulted. After BHB announced the closure, MP Holshouser publicly criticised MP Foggo via a letter in the paper.
The ‘correct’ information was leaked to the press. The people threatened to march.
And then the Premier announced that he could not in good conscience let the UCC close!! MP gordon then directed the BHB to keep UCC open.
Did he get a conscience this week!!
I give Premier Cannonier credit for getting better but I do not think this is a moment to be used as a ‘good example’ of how to govern.
The OBA have put a good spin on the event since they are bending over backwards to commend MP Foggo for how she organised everything!!