BHB: Training Is Being Offered To Existing Staff
The Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB] said they have “not told eight people that they are being made redundant in June,” and said that as they are now using electronic rather than paper records, the type of work is changing, and a “training programme is offered to existing staff to prepare them for new roles” and they “will make every attempt to redeploy staff to other BHB positions for which they are qualified.”
This follows after remarks in the House of Assembly by MP Derrick Burgess who said he had been told that the hospital will make eight workers redundant in June; you can listen to Mr Burgess’ full remarks at the start of the video below.
Following the comments in Parliament, we asked BHB for further information and a spokesperson said, “BHB can confirm that it has not told eight people that they are being made redundant in June.
“We believe the comments relate to our health information management services department which manages our medical records. This department, like most of BHB, is modernising as we transition to our first organisation-wide electronic medical record. The transition from paper-based to electronic medical records is helping us improve the delivery of patient care and it’s an exciting time as we are able to modernise services and meet international standards of care.
“As the HIMS department will now be supporting electronic rather than paper records, the type of work undertaken is changing. BHB has been working with the union to ensure that a training programme is offered to existing staff to prepare them for new roles that will be advertised within BHB in the coming months.
“BHB is both respectful and sensitive to the needs of its staff and will make every attempt to redeploy staff to other BHB positions for which they are qualified, if they are unsuccessful in securing one of the new roles.
“Although we anticipate the overall headcount within HIMS will trend down from the current number of 19 to 14, this is factoring in people currently in the department on limited-time/temporary contracts and those who are close to or passed retirement. The reduction within HIMS also includes a role that will remain at BHB, but is transferring to a different department.
“We have fantastic HIMS staff and so are confident that the training and development will prepare them well for the new roles. Only should a staff member not take up a new role or redeployment, would redundancy be an option. Whatever path they eventually decide on we will support staff fully through the process.”
