Harrison’s Point gets outdoor seating

by Anesta Henry

Patients at the Isolation Facility at Harrison’s Point, St Lucy, now have an outdoor area where they can sit, relax and enjoy the breeze coming off of the Atlantic Ocean.

Director of Isolation Facilities Dr Corey Forde said the space which was created through a donation from companies that worked on the infrastructural development of the facility is important for the preservation of patients’ state of mind since the virus has been found to have a negative psychological impact on those who contract it and they have to be isolated for several days.

The open space is now equipped with tables and umbrells, creating a beach platform comparison.

“If you look around, you can see this beautiful area which almost looks like somewhere in Barbados on the beach to be quite exact. But I think the most important thing for us at Harrison’s Point is that our particular goal is always to try to make our patients and our clients as comfortable as possible within this environment in these difficult times.

“The majority of our admissions to this facility remain a high tourist population and within that tourist population, we understand our role even outside of healthcare, as to the kind of impact that we would have on the tourism industry. And this is why I always tell the staff at the facility that one important fact is that tourism is our business and we as an institution must play our part in that aspect,” he said.

Dr Forde extended gratitude to the donors and administration of the hospital and Ministry of Health for supporting the facility in every way possible, including its changes during this difficult time.

“Every single person out there can play a part in the COVID-19 fight not only by doing appropriate hand washing and wearing your mask appropriately. They can also contribute quite largely recognizing that every single one of us standing here today, and every single one of our family, friends or healthcare workers, or the
people we meet even in the supermarket or at church, can end up in this facility.

“I want to thank the full group of contributors to this programme of COVID-19 within this facility. The Harrison’s Point Facility is not about Dr Corey Forde, it is about a team effort. It encompasses every single individual at this facility,” Dr Forde said.

Project Manager Joseph Steinbok, who spearheaded the project, told members of the media during a brief handing over ceremony, that the donors were happy to be able to give back to making the facility a better place and more comfortable setting for patients.

(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)