Improvements being made to VG healthcare services
Hon Wheatley was speaking during the Twentieth Sitting of the First Session o the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Friday, October 18, 2024, where he admitted to healthcare being in the spotlight in the Territory, in particular Virgin Gorda.
“Recent events have brough to attention the unique challenges of health care delivery on our sister islands and in particular Virgin Gorda. At a recent community meeting, the Virgin Gorda community were able to clearly articulate many of their ongoing concerns with the delivery of healthcare on our island,” he stated.
Service at Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic upgraded
The concerns of Virgin Gorda residents, the Minister said, have been heard and are being given priority and hence the necessary adjustments to scheduling and workflow have been made. Therefore, a registered nurse is now stationed at the clinic all day everyday.
“This will ensure that a healthcare provider is always available and ready to start any emergency treatment that may be required. Physicians are available onsite from 8:30 in the morning until 12 midnight every night,” he explained.
Hon Wheatley added that the BVIHSA has confirmed that residents can expect a 15-minute turnaround time for emergency callouts after midnight.
While primary healthcare services continue to operate during clinic hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, the delivery of specialised and diagnostic services at the clinic has also been upgraded.
They are as follows:
- Daily from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Urgent Care
- Monday to Friday 8:30: a.m., to 4:30 p.m.- Pharmacy, family planning, wound care, home visiting and domiciliary care, nutrition counselling, and mental health services.
- Tuesdays 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.- Phlebotomy
- Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.- Child Health
- Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.- Maternal Health
- Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.- Dental Clinic
- Second and fourth Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.- Paediatric Clinic
- Every third Wednesday- Psychiatrists and Mental Health Nurses visit
A paramedic and an advanced emergency technician are also at the clinic. Two additional advanced emergency medical technicians are currently undergoing training and will join the emergency staff roaster at the clinic upon graduation.
Additional services coming soon
Hon. Wheatley told the HoA that the BVIHSA is working to bring additional services to the clinic including ultrasound, radiology, social services and laboratory through active and ongoing recruitment and reassignment of staff.
He added that repairs to the standby generator are complete and air conditioning units are currently awaiting parts that are on order from the original equipment manufacturer LG Industries.
Once the roof of the second floor is repaired, the second floor will facilitate the expansion of services, improving the BVIHSA’s capacity to meet the healthcare needs of the growing population on Virgin Gorda.
Hon Wheatley assured the HoA and Virgin Gorda residents that as Minister along with his team and the BVIHSA, they remain committed to improving health services across all these Virgin Islands.
“We have heard from the community and we are working closely with BVIHSA to bring resolutions to the more urgent matters and issues while at the same time exploring ways to improve healthcare services on the sister islands and ensure the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic becomes a healthcare institution it is destined to be,” he stated.
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