The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Rand Memorial Hospital should have a full complement of ambulances operational and on call by the end of the week, after mechanical challenges resulted in a severe emergency transport shortage almost two weeks ago.

Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) Managing Director Herbert Brown reported that three ambulances are operational and two should be repaired and back in operation by the weekend.

“I am pleased to report that most of our ambulances are operational – we expect full operation (of) all ambulances by the end of the week,” he said on Monday while in Grand Bahama.

On March 2, four of the five ambulances were out of service due to mechanical issues. EMS personnel were left with only one functioning ambulance to service the entire island, which resulted in a long wait time.

A Freeport Container Port company ambulance was on loan to the hospital. In Nassau, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force also donated an ambulance to the PHA to be sent to Grand Bahama.

Mr Brown stated that a new fleet of ambulances is being acquired through the National Insurance Board (NIB). Of the 21 ambulances to be acquired, he said six would go to Grand Bahama.

“One of the six will go to the Eight Mile Rock (EMR) Clinic so that particular vehicle and the team will provide coverage to the western end of the island,” he said.

“We have already launched in EMR extended clinic hours and we believe an ambulance there will make a significant difference in our response time. So rather than a vehicle having to respond from the Rand to west Grand Bahama, it will respond from the EMR Clinic – we think that is a significant plus.”