Health Council Seeks Community Engagement
The Bermuda Health Council is “expanding its engagement with the community as part of a commitment to support solutions for better population health.”
A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Health Council believes that the health system should be shaped by the lived experiences of those who rely on the system every day. While data from studies and policy reviews are essential, they can never fully capture the nuances of firsthand experiences and community needs. By directly engaging with healthcare professionals, spiritual leaders, and the public, we can gain a deeper, more accurate understanding of the gaps in healthcare services, challenges with accessing care, and areas for improvement.
“However, while the Health Council will collect this critical information through surveys, focus groups, and interviews, the implementation of solutions will be addressed in collaboration with those best positioned to support change. This means fostering strong partnerships with health service providers and health professionals, community organizations, policymakers, and others who can drive the necessary actions. These partnerships are essential to turning insights into effective and sustainable improvements for Bermuda’s healthcare system.
Upcoming Activities
“Over the next several months, a series of surveys, working groups, and interviews will be conducted, focusing on areas that impact health system quality.
Sacred Health: Insights from Spiritual Leaders on Perspectives of Health
“This series of interviews will delve into the physical and mental health needs of Bermuda’s communities, as seen through the perspectives of religious and spiritual leaders. The initiative seeks to understand the health challenges these leaders witness in their communities and to explore effective interventions that are addressing these needs. The insights gathered will help inform the development of more tailored strategies to improve health outcomes throughout Bermuda.
Hands That Heal: Building Bermuda’s Health Workforce
“Launched in June 2024, this initiative focuses on developing a strategic plan to enhance Bermuda’s health workforce. Through a series of workshops and focus groups, the project aims to identify workforce gaps, and propose strategies for recruitment, retention, and professional development. This plan is essential to ensure that Bermuda’s healthcare system is equipped to address the needs of a changing demographic and adapt to the challenges of the evolving global economy. The survey is open to healthcare providers, professional associations, educational institutions, Bermuda Hospitals Board and patient representatives.
Pillars of Care: Optimizing Community Pharmacies
“This initiative conducts a comprehensive review of pharmaceutical services to assess current offerings, identify gaps in service delivery, and anticipate future needs. The findings will be used to support the pharmaceutical sector in ensuring it is well prepared to support the health system in achieving improved health outcomes. Globally, pharmacies are expanding their role in achieving Universal Health Coverage by offering services such as health screenings, chronic disease management, and preventive care. For example, in Canada, pharmacies are now involved in smoking cessation programs, hypertension management, and providing travel health consultations. In South Africa, pharmacies are increasingly becoming points of access for primary healthcare, offering services like HIV testing and management of minor ailments. This initiative provides an opportunity to learn more about what Bermuda’s pharmacies can do to support better health outcomes and to understand what services the public values most from their local pharmacies. The review aims to gather feedback from community members, and pharmacists, while interviews will be conducted with pharmacy owners, pharmacists, and community leaders.
Want to Participate?
“For further information and to take part in these initiatives visit healthcouncil.bm/engage and bookmark this page for updates.
“We truly look forward to your engagement in these activities, and the diverse set of opportunities for you to share your unique experiences in more activities to come.”
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