By LETRE SWEETING
Tribune Staff Reporter
lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister Dr Michael Darville said he is concerned about Bahamians’ mixed feelings about services at Princess Margaret Hospital.
“I receive letters from clients just about every day, some speaking on excellent service provided at the Princess Margaret Hospital and others speaking about the disappointment in services received at the institution,” he said.
“There’s a mixed feeling and perception that exists with the Bahamian people who interface to receive services from our tertiary health care facilities.
“For us, this is a paramount concern, because in 2024 we are going to move with a spirit of excellence to ensure that the people that we are privileged to serve speak highly about their experience here at the Princess Margaret Hospital.”
Dr Darville’s comment came before he joined Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt on a tour of PMH, the governor general’s first official visit to the facility.
Dr Darville, who sang Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, delighting onlookers, discussed some of the improvements to the hospital in the past two years.
He said a special pathogens unit had been opened, international obligations for post-pandemic preparedness were met, an ophthalmology assistance programme with the Cuban government was launched, and renovations to the male medical one and female surgical one departments were conducted.
He noted forty healthcare professionals from Cuba and 18 nurses from Guyana have been welcomed to healthcare facilities throughout The Bahamas.
“Let Your Light Shine” was the theme of yesterday’s event.
Governor General Pratt, who worked at the hospital for more than 14 years, said the hospital has gone from having one-room units to having multiple comprehensive departments.
“I have lived long enough to know the then Princess Margaret Hospital and to witness the now,” she said. “I knew when we had an injection room, a dressing room, one room for orthopaedics, and the x-ray department was one room. I spent 14 years in the operating theatre. Now we have departments.
“Many of us who complain have never travelled, didn’t visit hospitals. Just look at our nurses. Look at how sharp they look.”
She said she travelled to some countries where the nurses’ shoes were not white. “You will never see our nurses look like that,” she said. “I am saying this because of the pride and respect you have for your country.”
• Sandilands visit, see PAGE 24
Comments
bahamianson 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Where does he live, Mars? Everyone know that you cannot get good service or good medical care in pmh. The nurses and physicians are miserable and disgruntled. They treat you poorly. They treat it like the workers at any government agency. They are slack, lazy and entitled. There is no parking and no Ac. That place is a dump. Ask any Bahamian. Does Dr. Danville send his family there? Does any politician send their children to public school. Did Brave Davis, the leader of the country, The Prime Minister, spend any time in PMH when he had covid? He wouldn't dear.
birdiestrachan 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Two persons both now deceased said the nurses at the Rand memorial treated them bad. And they were really very nice people. They will one day reap what they sowed
ThisIsOurs 4 months, 4 weeks ago
"Just look at our nurses. Look at how sharp they look.”
This is an odd statement. Someone has pointed out to me how odd it is that our nurses wear white starched uniforms. They said nursing is a VERY dirty job. But our nurses come to work starched and pressed and some with 3 inch manicured nails to do a dirty job. And here we have the GG praising nurses for how nicely thryre dressed... and he wants to know what wrong with PMH?
"She said she travelled to some countries where the nurses’ shoes were not white. “You will never see our nurses look like that,” she said. “I am saying this because of the pride and respect you
My God.. white clean shoes, blood, vomit, lifting people. Nursing een pretty
Sickened 4 months, 4 weeks ago
I know right. Me thinks her mental capacity is on a downward trend. Sad. But for these comments to be uttered, with all the very serious issues going on with our health system, makes me question her mental capacity.
JackArawak 4 months, 4 weeks ago
I had to go to the PHM ER about 18 months ago. Within 5 minutes I felt sorry for the staff, the place is a shithole. I sat for 6 hours, couldn't even get a drink of water, was never seen by a staff member except to get me name. I left and got care elsewhere. Next time I have an emergency my family has strict instructions to let me die in Abaco before they send me back to PHM.
As long as the government has any kind of influence, you will always get poor service. Just look at BPL.
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