BHB & MP Dunkley On Dialysis Unit Issue
[Updated] Bermuda Hospitals Board is “currently investigating a water test result from the tanks that feed its Dialysis Unit” and “out of an abundance of caution and to ensure patient safety, we are diverting patients to other community dialysis service providers while we await the results of the tests.”
BHB Statement
A BHB spokesperson comments: “Bermuda Hospitals Board is currently investigating a water test result from the tanks that feed its Dialysis Unit. All equipment in the Dialysis Unit is working, but one of the regular water tests picked up an anomaly and we are currently rechecking the results.
“We are working with our partners Paget Health Services, who maintain and service the Dialysis Unit water system as part of the Acute Care Wing contract. Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure patient safety, we are diverting patients to other community dialysis service providers while we await the results of the tests. As these tests are done off-island we expect it will take two to three days to complete. We can provide an update once the results are received later this week.”
MP Dunkley’s Comments
Shadow Minister of National Security & Health, Michael Dunkley, said, “News from the Bermuda Hospitals Board that the Dialysis Unit is not servicing clients due to water issues is concerning, and the One Bermuda Alliance hopes the matter is rectified expeditiously.
“The diversion of patients to other ‘community dialysis service providers’ must ensure that there is no change in the service as provided by the hospital and there is no charge outside of any usual charges. It is also critical that the outside hospital service providers can cope with the demand and times expected by patients.
“As a result of being contacted by concerned staff, I reached out to the BHB and have been assured that the situation would be short lived and that the outside service providers have been offering similar services. I intend to keep abreast of this matter.
“It’s concerning that this issue with water is occurring; I hope this is isolated and doesn’t spread to other areas of the hospital and impact additional patients. It’s prudent the BHB remains diligent where this situation is concerned.”
Update 3.45pm: A BHB spokesperson said, “We are pleased to share that the re-test of the water supplying the Dialysis Unit has come back as normal. We extend our appreciation to our staff who went with our patients to dialyse them in the community, as well as to the community dialysis providers who worked with us to provide treatments.
“All our dialysis patients had their necessary dialysis treatments thanks to this collaboration and teamwork. We apologise to our dialysis patients for any inconvenience and thank them for their understanding. Their safety is always our primary concern. We anticipate dialysis treatments to start back in the Acute Care Wing of KEMH from tomorrow [Thursday 15 February]. The dialysis team is contacting all patients to confirm their usual times for their treatment at BHB.”
Unfortunately, such things happen but whatever was wrong was caught before any patients were contaminated, for lack of a better word. Kudos to whoever caught the issue beforehand and keep up the good work.
Here comes Dunkley to politicize everything.
Dunkley is the main reason the election was 30-6 last election. He needs to remove himself from the OBA and go drink his milk.
Yup! And to imply that community services might not be up to the standard of KEMH! That is not what I heard. Several patients expressed their surprise at the quality of service.