Health ministry gives insights into operations at SLBMC

Perhaps for the first time ever, the Ministry of Health is providing the nation with
insights into the number of patients who receive treatment at the Sir Lester Bird
Medical Centre and for what purpose.
The Minister of Health gave a report to Cabinet on Wednesday on the frequency of
which the SLBMC was utilized by those who became ill. 12,749 patients were
processed through radiology during 2023. 15,908 patients were referred to the
hospital by private doctors. 3,136 occupied rooms on the wards. 120,000 sessions
of dialysis were performed on more than 1000 patients whose kidneys had failed
them.
The minister contends that the SLBMC serves many patients satisfactorily during
each calendar year. “The attempt to paint the institution as somehow failing the
unwell men, women and children, who enter through its doors, is highly
inaccurate,” according to the Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph.
Concurrently, he reported, the Emergency Room (E.R.) is being expanded to care
for many who need urgent care but not necessarily emergency care. Nurses and
doctors are being trained to engage patients as though they were customers who
expected warm, gentle and professional services.