Lamb Foggo Protest March Planned On Friday
[Updated] A march to protest the plans to close down the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre in St David’s is scheduled for tomorrow [Nov 22], set to leave BIU headquarters and make its way to the House of Assembly where a petition will be presented.
Citing financial losses in the $100,000 to $350,000 per year range, the Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB] recently announced the St David’s medical facility would be closing.
St David’s MP Lovitta Foggo has spoken out against the closure, saying the OBA “turned its back on the people of the East End,” while Shadow Health Minister Zane DeSilva said the OBA “neglected to mention” that the OBA Chairman, an OBA MP, and a former OBA MP are all members of the BHB board that made the decision.
Ms Foggo said that, “In 2012 the OBA said they would ‘Establish an ambulance station that will serve St. George’s and St. David’s’ now in 2013, no ambulance station and no Urgent Care Centre,” and said “the OBA has turned its back on the people of the East End.”
Health and Seniors Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin spoke on the BHB’s decision to close the Lamb-Foggo Urgent Care Centre in the House of Assembly, saying “the business plan dictated that a minimum of 8,182 visits would be needed for this establishment to break even.
“The reality is that an average of 5,500 people used the facility, and the people of Bermuda were left to pick up the shortfall, not directly through the consolidated fund, but through the resulting higher insurance premiums and higher costs of health care.
The Minister continued, “The BHB has determined that this money can be better used to support other vital services that are needed nationally, such as Dialysis, Oncology, Diabetes and the Emergency Department.
“Government and all Bermudians want to see a safe, high-quality, patient-centered Hospital continue to provide acute-care services for all. The BHB is the only entity with the mandate to do so.”
Update 10.47am: The Government said that “In light of the strong public interest” in the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre closure issue, Minister Gordon-Pamplin requested that the UCC Business Plan document, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday and includes detailed cost analyses and government grant requirements for the operation, be released. The report is not dated, however is understood to be from around 2007 or so.
The UCC Business Plan [which covers and east and west end centres] follows below [PDF here]:
Update 7.18pm: The Health Minister 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,” however the march is still planned for tomorrow at 12 noon.
fine…you want it opened…you pay for it
I guess you missed the news last night. The OBA been lying! Lamb Foggo is turning a profit!
yeah I heard the ‘news’, according to a report I heard today, the ‘profit’ was somehow swallowed up by outstanding operating expenses the were somehow overlooked….its not a necessity, its a luxury we can no longer afford, keep it on standby for the same reason it was built, IN CASE OF NATURAL OR MAN MADE DISASTER.
They actually are also loosing profit because they intentionally shut down the use of labratories there and moved them to KEMH, thus giving them reason to jusitfy their decision to close. Loss of profit, disgusied by operational costs….
How ironic is it, that the Opposition claims that this Government has ‘turned their back on the East End’ when during their term in power they:
- closed the public golf course
- mandated the destruction and closure of a local’s bar business on Fort St. Catherine beach
- gave up trying to attract smaller cruise ships in St. Georges, despite the fact that they still somehow manage to get into Hamilton
- reduced and in some cases completely eliminated ferry service from Hamilton and the West End
- closed the St. Georges police station
- eliminated the Corporation’s main revenue sources
The golf course is now in the process of being re-opened, a fuel tax has been levied which will exclusively be placed into the fund to pay for the crumbling St. George’s infrastructure and also re-opened the police station while also ensuring that more than 100k tourists were moved from their Dockyard berthed cruise ship to St. Georges this season via the chartered ferry.
But yet somehow Ms. Foggo, who considers walking around to her constituents for a chat and espousing racial rhetoric is somehow sticking up for East Enders? Oh, my bad, she had a road changed from one way to two way (or vice versa, can’t remember) and that is her greatest accomplishment for her constituency.
Has Ms. Foggo provided one suggestion, other than playing on people’s emotions, which would assist in keeping this money losing facility open? The same facility that cannot save lives, but just fix simple boo-boos and is only open for 8 hours a day.
Lastly, why is this march beginning from the BIU? The BIU has nothing to do with the health care side of our Government and/or economy. It is a simple political march and nothing more.
“UCCs provide treatment to patients suffering from non-life-threatening conditions that require quick attention,
including bone fractures, pneumonia and flu, and minor lacerations.” – As per page 2 of the business plan.
So it is a boo-boo clinic, not some life saving necessity as some have stated that it is. Two of my friends were turned away from the UCC because the stitches they required could not be accomodated at the UCC due to their severity. And that was simple stitches.
But if you protesters are willing to continue to pay for unnecessary services, such as this, then not one of you should complain about rising premiums, general cost of healthcare and debt levels. Not one of you.
Lamb Foggo is turning are profit!
Look at the draft financials, then look at the actual numbers of visitors and paitents…. No way that it is making a profit from users. Absolutely no way.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. The minister lied in the house of assembly. They are So not ready to govern.
If you plan on going to the march please make sure to bring your checkbook!
And your resume if you are employed at the start of the march.
You threating to fire poeple marching now… OK Well done mate!
People can march in their own free time. They should know how much it was actually being used and what they are marching for and not assume it has more capability than it has. Urgent makes it sound like an emergency service to me, but it was never that. read on…
http://www.bermudahospitals.bm/critical-care/urgentCare-centre.asp
Sourced from the website:
“Who you’ll find at the Urgent Care Centre
When the Urgent Care Centre is open in the evenings and weekends, there will be a trained physician, registered nurse, and diagnostic technologists. During the week day between 8:00am and 4:00pm, there will be a diagnostic technologist on site for diagnostic tests only.
Urgent Care is not Emergency Care!
If your injury or illness is serious, or potentially life threatening, you should call an ambulance (911) or go straight to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The Urgent Care Centre has basic diagnostic equipment (x-ray, ultrasound and blood tests) and a small team including a doctor, nurses and diagnostic technologists. We can treat minor illnesses and injuries.
Only the hospital has sophisticated equipment to diagnose head injuries, clots, strokes, heart attacks, major trauma (road accidents), and the surgical support services that could save your life in a true emergency.
If you have any of the following, go straight to the hospital or call an ambulance:
•You are injured and have a large gash or cut with a lot of blood
•You faint or have a head injury that knocks you out
•You are hurt in a motor vehicle accident
•You have chest pains
If you are very worried about any illness or injury, go to the hospital. If you think you need an ambulance don’t hesitate to call 911. “
All the oba has to do is drop 3 consultants and 1 Minister with-out profolio (which is a waste) and the place can stay open! Then again the oba has your vote now, so why care about you people in St. Geo and Mohawk Country.
Wonder what (MP) Mr. Kenny Bascome thinks about this?
Look at the financial section in the attached document page 14 onwards.
Looks like it was originally forecast to be need ~$900,000 in GOVT grants per annum just to get off the ground……..
People should lose their jobs, but I promise you, there are FAR more disposable positions than the ones you mentioned.
They have put this country in very debt, in three years we will be going to the IMF because no one will want to lend anymore and these fools are going to march!! We need to save money or else we have a 3rd world budget and country ahead of us. What don’t they understand about the countries debt that Mr Brown, Mrs Cox and their former cabinet has put this country in. I just don’t get it, someone please help me understand if I am missing something.
PLP views the political arena as separate from reality. That or they do actively seek Bermuda’s destruction.
PLP on the other hand really cared for and helped St George – by blowing up their only hotel. Thanks PLP.
What does the BIU have to do with this? Or is Alaska Hall being setup for another party and so is unavailable?
Of the marchers, I wonder how many have
1) Used the clinic
2) Live across the causway in St Davids or St Georges
I trust the Godfather will march with his boy Zane. Also, surely the march should be in St. Davids except I gather that real St David islanders (not the PLP imported ones in freebie housing) speak their mind.
The marchers should be marching to the PLP’s office to demand where the money went that could have financed the Urgent Care Facility!
FYI Lovitta, Zane and supporters:
DEBT-
A sum of money that is owed or due to be paid because of an express agreement; a specified sum of money that one person is obligated to pay and that another has the legal right to collect or receive. A fixed and certain obligation to pay money or some other valuable thing or things, either in the present or in the future.
Which by the way brings me to another point, all those newcomers to St. Davids are contributing to the destruction of a unique culture and heritage. They should either attend cultural night classes or return to the main island.
What does the document that Patricia Gordon Pamplin had released do with the closure of the clinic? From reading it, it seems like it preceded the opening of the Urgent Care Center.
Exactly!
Look at the financials from p14 onward. It was never viable without pumping taxpaers and BHB money at it. It concluded it was not viable IMO.
Maybe Government should privatize it and let Zane and Lovitta take it over. Then they can rake in all the money the Lamb Foggo Clinic is making. Then Zane you can brag and brag to the OBA how wrong they were. Come on Zane up for the challenge!
I understand that Gov’t needs to save money but there seems to be more to this than they are saying. Many people smell a rat. The public needs to wait, watch and see who takes over this facility. We need to watch and see what services are offered. If the same services are offered as Lambe-Foggo did, and the operators operate at a surplus then questions need to be asked-i.e. was it really operating at a surplus all along and someone in power is trying to direct those profits to a buddy.
Don’t let this issue drop the way Bermudians always do. The PLP says it operated at a surplus and if it operates at a surplus in private hands, then the question needs to be asked as to why Gov’t claimed it was losing money.
I for one will be watching and I intend to keep the OBA honest, because I see some UBP-type behaviour that I do not like coming from them…slowly but surely, it’s coming!
You are kidding right? Then why would they be trying to close it?
Hmmm…it’s suddenly going to be kept open…so who’s kidding now?
Boy are you people gullible.
Hmmm I don’t know. It could have something to do with the planned protests, and severe opposition… Silly.
You really are trying to spin corruption stories on the OBA? Let’s talk about the last few years of mysterious PLP decisions…………………..
If Gov’t was in the right they would stick to their guns, would they not? The fact that they are doing a 180 seems mighty suspicious. I’ve heard some things that did not stick well with me concerning this issue. It just seems like the OBA are slowly but surely heading down a slippery slope and when the public becomes aware they back off
The decisions the PLP made have NO bearing on what is happening now as the OBA pledged to do better, DID THEY NOT? We can’t validate their mishandling of things because the PLP did or didn’t do the same…the OBA promised to hold themselves to a higher standard and we need to hold them to it.
Naive and biased people like you will never see anything wrong with anything that they do…you need to open your eyes and keep them honest.
Fair enough, but making allegations like this, with no evidence whatsoever, is toxic.
OBA is ultimately Bermuda’s last hope before descent into poverty and collapse.
If you protesters are truely and honestly wanting to keep the clinic open…walk from the Clinic to the House.
That clinic could have been run from an existing building in St G or Southside with spoiling virgin greenspace.
Too bad I get sick and need attention when the clinic isn’t open like Saturday and Sunday DAYTIME.
How many visits were of minor nature that could have been seen by a GP?
What on earth did people do BEFORE UCC was opened?
The last govt placed all us Bermudians in a bad situation,now we cannot afford to keep our facilities open.Lets pray that the new govt can help our children.
For those who complain that this issue has been made political; it was made political when OBA member of parliament; Mrs Holshouser; choose her political party over the wishes and concerns of her constituents over her
government’s backing of the decision to close Lamb/Foggo.
Mrs Davis/Outerbridge smoked out due to the rising hue of protests in her
opinion on the Sherry Simmons talk show; express ambivalence at best and no support for the lamb/Foggo medical centre to remain open. The other OBA politician Mr.Bascome is no where to be found. Yes it is political and the people of the East end must take note and remember who supported them in this fight. One remembers the tensions between the United States
and Mexico and the struggle over Texas and when the Americans were defeated at the battle of the Alamo and when they met the forces of the Mexican general Santa Anna; the battle cry was ‘ Remember the Alamo’. If this anti-Bermudian one term OBA government goes ahead with their plan to close Lamb/Foggo; than come the next election; the battle cry should be’REMEMBER LAMB/FOGGO’.
Mr.Bascome can be seen working hard in St.Georges try coming down and visiting the old town. All these years we have done without the LAMB FOGGO and we can do without, If it means Bermuda getting back on track tough decisions have to be made so be it. If theres no money to run it close it. Maybe when were back in the clear we can try reopen it. This place only opened in 2009 how many years did people have to drive to the hospital. Further more if your dying the place cant save you anyway. So stop all the BS and lets get Bermuda back on track. Ms Foggo is mad because it has her last name thats all.
Okay. For people to take you seriously:
Start by learning how to use punctuation and semicolons. It makes it clear that don’t read much at all.
You clearly don’t understand Bermudian politics, so don’t even bother trying to draw parallels with American politics.
“take note and remember who supported them in this fight”
… Really??? OBA is doing a service to BERMUDA. But they are the bad guys, and PLP are the heroes right? Get real you sh*t.
Clinic is open sat sun DAYTIME Smith. Pity if people knew when it was open it may of been used. Complaining too late and really is a March gonna pay to keep it open I don’t think so.
…at 9:30am on a Saturday I had to go to KEMH because the UCC was CLOSED!
Lol stop SHOUTING it opens at 12 if it was tht urgent you shouldn’t of been there lol
Those East Enders should have marched 7 years ago!
The PLP closed the Clinici putting seniors in peril.Where was the call to march then?I will not be used as a pawn to benefit Zane or Lovita.
Sadly the issue HAS and IS political and the march is masquarading as a community issue though many participants may feel differently they are clearly being used. If it wasn’t ‘political’why march from Union Square? Obviously the organisers, Mrs. Foggo and the PLP are hoping and counting on a bigger turn out by associating the march with the Union and the inference that the OBA is the UBP reborn and are anti Bermudian blah blah blah.
Though the Lamb Foggo Clinic may have made a profit this fiscal year it is no doubt because the BHB had to minimize operating times and services. Look at the current operating times and procedures available and you have to wonder will it really be that big a miss.
As it is no doubt pulling much needed resources and funds from our main hospital that cannot be a good thing. However on the side of emergencies like Hurricanes and or air emergencies when the causeway may be closed then I think we should look to keep it opened. Clearly there is a need in such circumstances but at this time it is a glorified band aid station; it would need to have the additional personel allocated and equipment upgraded somewhat to be a facility that many seem to think it is now which presently it is not.
See Below from the BHB Website:
Home : Critical Care: Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre
LOCATION
Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre
1 Hall Street, Southside,
St. George
(between Police Station and White’s Supermarket)
DAYS & HOURS
Monday to Friday –
4:00pm to midnight
Saturday & Sunday –
12 noon to midnight
CONTACT
(441) 298-7700
Info Poster
Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre
You might need the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre if you have a minor illness or injury that needs immediate attention, but is in no way life-threatening and is not likely to need surgery or sophisticated diagnostic equipment. This means something like a bump, bruise, graze, cut, cough, cold or earache.
Urgent Care Centre Services
We provide you with assessment and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, such as sprains, strains, scrapes, cuts, coughs, colds, earaches, bumps or bruises, with onsite access to x-rays, ultrasounds and laboratory (blood) tests.
Daytime Diagnostic Services
On weekdays between 8:00am and 4:00pm, when the Urgent Care Centre is closed, the facility will still be open for people who need basic diagnostic tests. If you are referred for an x-ray, ultrasound or blood test you can ask your doctor to refer you to the Urgent Care Centre instead of travelling to the hospital, or other providers in Hamilton.
Who you’ll find at the Urgent Care Centre
When the Urgent Care Centre is open in the evenings and weekends, there will be a trained physician, registered nurse, and diagnostic technologists. During the week day between 8:00am and 4:00pm, there will be a diagnostic technologist on site for diagnostic tests only.
Urgent Care is not Emergency Care!
If your injury or illness is serious, or potentially life threatening, you should call an ambulance (911) or go straight to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The Urgent Care Centre has basic diagnostic equipment (x-ray, ultrasound and blood tests) and a small team including a doctor, nurses and diagnostic technologists. We can treat minor illnesses and injuries.
Only the hospital has sophisticated equipment to diagnose head injuries, clots, strokes, heart attacks, major trauma (road accidents), and the surgical support services that could save your life in a true emergency.
If you have any of the following, go straight to the hospital or call an ambulance:
You are injured and have a large gash or cut with a lot of blood
You faint or have a head injury that knocks you out
You are hurt in a motor vehicle accident
You have chest pains
If you are very worried about any illness or injury, go to the hospital. If you think you need an ambulance don’t hesitate to call 911.
Historically speaking Union Square has always been synonymous with the starting point of protest, its like when people want to advertise they stand at Crow Lane !!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the wake of the statement of the premier that the Lamb/Foggo medical centre will not close; I can only say this is a victory for the people of
Bermuda.
Short term maybe. You sound like a PLP relic, so the long term doesn’t matter right…
Good job keeping the Centre open,minister Pamplin Gordon.
@ REDMAN Exactly… The organisers have an ulterior motive.
Sadly the issue HAS and IS political and the march is masquarading as a community issue though many participants may feel differently they are clearly being used. If it wasn’t ‘political’why march from Union Square? Obviously the organisers, Mrs. Foggo and the PLP are hoping and counting on a bigger turn out by associating the march with the Union and the inference that the OBA is the UBP reborn and are anti Bermudian blah blah blah.
Perhaps Dr Brown could take it over as part of his healthcare empire. It ticks all the boxes.