Surgery backlogs to be cleared as healthcare delivery is modernised

The new Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill has outlined plans for a shakeup of the healthcare system in Barbados as he seeks to improve efficiency and reduce a backlog of people awaiting various operations.

At the same time, Gooding-Edghill has hinted at future commercial use of the now Harrison Point Isolation Centre that was retrofitted for use to treat COVID-19 positive patients.

Gooding-Edghill told lawmakers on Wednesday that the cash-strapped Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will be a “significant priority” for him in the coming years as part of a five-year capital expenditure programme to modernise and improve healthcare delivery on the island.

“We will focus on what is achievable and what can be delivered in this coming financial year with a clear understanding of what capital requirements are necessary,” he told Parliament, as he outlined that his ministry was requesting a revised budget of $342.8 million, some $21.6 million more than is stated in the draft Estimates for the 2022/2023 financial year.

“On assuming office I instructed the Executive Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to prepare a five-year capital expenditure programme for the ministry’s review. The capital expenditure programme will involve stakeholder participation to better understand what is needed at the QEH to enhance efficiency and effectiveness,” said Gooding-Edghill.

“I have been advised that urgent and immediate action should be given to the correction of a longstanding issue at the hospital, namely the long list of overdue varied surgical operations that have piled up over the last several years,” he said. He acknowledged that the waiting list for cataract surgery alone was in excess of 700 persons.

He said partnerships were being explored with Cuba to reduce the backlogs, adding that “out-of-the-box commercial thinking” was also being considered.

He noted that a part of the plan will be to get all 12 operating theatres back into operation to be utilised “day and night” for the medical procedures. Currently nine operating theatres are in use.

He said officials were also reviewing options to help clear the backlog of approximately 1,800 people awaiting CT scans.

“The overall objective of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is now execution with precision, driven by results. Revised monthly reporting systems will be put in place to measure progress and key deliverables,” said Gooding-Edghill.

The health minister said he expected expenditure for his ministry “will return to pre-COVID levels” once the economy is fully reopened.

“In financial year 2022/2023, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will transition from a COVID-centred healthcare response to one that embraces all aspects of healthcare,” he declared.

Further outlining plans to overhaul healthcare delivery, Gooding-Edghill said he has listened to the concerns of the nurses and steps were being taken to answer their calls including appointments, payment of overtime and improvements in physical working conditions.

“We will further strengthen our relationships with our regional and international partners including the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) the Health Economics Unit at St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to tackle the complex issues of healthcare financing, human resource for healthcare and childhood obesity,” he added.

He said work with non-governmental organisations, the Cave Hill Campus and Adtalem Global Education will also continue.

“Some of the specific deliverables for the coming financial year will include the reintroduction of the stipend for nurses, funded to the tune of $2 million; incentivising the population to choose careers in nursing; improvement in cardiac care, both pre-hospital and in hospital care; reconfiguration of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to facilitate the relocation of the outpatient clinic and administrative offices to create additional clinical space at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” said Gooding-Edghill.

He said the ministry will also be “supporting” the construction of the new geriatric facility at the Botanical Gardens, piloting a tissue and transplant programme, completing renovation at the St Thomas outpatient clinic and “advising” on a blueprint for the Alzheimer’s respite facility at the Gordon Cummins Hospital.

Gooding-Edghill said the ambitious plan should result in “enhanced healthcare delivery, strategies to combat non-communicable diseases to help lower healthcare costs in the medium to long-term, health promotion, new models for healthcare delivery and financing, employment opportunities and modern mental health strategies”.

He said the changes should also result in an improvement of the overall healthcare environment, better monitoring and regulating of the sector, maintenance of pharmaceutical cost on quality and pricing to sustain the drug service and maintenance of vital lab services.

“In a revenue-constrained environment I will be requiring all department heads to pay special and close attention to how funds are used and allocated as we manage our healthcare system,” he said.

Gooding-Edghill noted that avenues will be explored to generate revenue for Barbados through use of the Best-dos Santos Laboratory and the Harrison Point Isolation Facility once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

“As we slowly transition out of the COVID environment, the opportunity for income generation by Best-dos Santos and Harrison’s Point will be fully explored,” he said. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb