The Tribune

THE newly opened Bahamas Medical Centre conducted its first set of surgeries in the new facility. Gastroenterologist Dr Gemma Rolle was the first to utilise the state of the art operating theatre when she performed an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Cosmetic surgeon Dr Greg Neil performed the first major surgical procedure: a breast reduction.

Dr Rolle has since performed three additional procedures and based on the experience she and her patients have had, there are plans to continue utilising the Blake Road operating theatre.

“It was awesome. The operating room and recovery area were fully staffed and everyone was in place for just my procedure and my patient. Everything that’s available at the main hospital was available here and it really is wonderful to have another option in this location to offer my patients the same high quality medical care,” said Dr Rolle.

Dr Neil’s patient, 55-year-old Sharon Creary, had nothing but good things to say about her experience.

While recuperating from the outpatient procedure at home a few days later, she said “I am just so pleased with the service. I fell in love with (Patient Care Technician) Shantell Rolle; she just made me so comfortable and relaxed. Everyone was just awesome. It was far beyond what I had expected. I had already started to psych myself up about what was going to happen, but the people there made the experience an enjoyable one.”

Dr Neil was also pleased with how his first experience at the new facility went.

“It was a pleasure to work in the state of the art surgical facility with highly trained staff and I’m glad for the opportunity to facilitate the western community with this new medical centre,” Dr Neil said following the surgery. Anaesthesiologist Dr Sy Pierre worked with Dr Neil on the six-hour outpatient case.

Mrs Creary said: “I had two surgeries (in the United States) in August and September and I thought their service was good, but what I received here, I tell you if I had to do it again, I’d rather take my money and leave it here in my country because I have someplace that I think is on par with anywhere else.”

Bahamas Medical Centre, located on Blake Road, is the newest facility in the Doctors Hospital Health System. It has one major operating theatre as well as a minor procedure operating room, giving surgeons and their patients another option for surgical procedures. It also houses an emergency room from 7am-11pm daily, a sessional clinic for speciality physician appointments and follow up care; a laboratory, imaging department, rehabilitation services, a dedicated medical fitness centre and international patient programme.