Home » Posts » Top QEH official urges more resources for hospital as he moves on

Top QEH official urges more resources for hospital as he moves on

by Emmanuel Joseph
4 min read
A+A-
Reset

The Director of Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has parted ways with the institution while calling for a review of the operating structures that have been in place since the healthcare facility opened almost 58 years ago.

Dr Clyde Cave, who has been associated with the QEH for more than four decades, said on Wednesday that the country’s lone public hospital needs more resources.

“I think, first of all, [there needs to be] recognition that the institution is underresourced and structures which were put in place when we moved in in the 1960s need to be reconsidered and re-resourced.

“And when I say re-resourced, it’s not just finance – although that is part of it too – it’s human resource development. The quality of the doctors encompasses the human and professional side and not just the technical side,” Dr Cave, who declined to renew his contract, told Barbados TODAY as he responded to a question about what improvements he would like to see at the QEH which opened its doors in November 1964.

“I would [also] like to see the caring and bedside manner get a little bit more prominence than it seems to have taken on in recent times,” he further suggested.   

Dr Cave, a consultant paediatrician and neonatologist, explained why he decided to leave the hospital at this time.

“My mandatory retirement was coming up in January and having gotten through the bulk of COVID, it was time for long-range planning and somebody else to take on the responsibility. I figured now would be a good transition for them and certainly a well-deserved rest for me. The contract ended, so I just didn’t renew or extend for the six months to January. I am out of here,” said Dr Cave, who started at the QEH as a medical student in 1978.

The specialist also reflected on his tenure at the hospital, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The last two years I wasn’t working as a paediatrician, I was in administration. We all know there were extraordinary times and challenges with COVID across the world. The QEH was no exception, and when called on to help in any way, you respond. I think during that time we were able to stabilise the ship. QEH was the one who responded nationally through our isolation centre and so on. A lot of other countries failed,” he contended.

“Given the situation and our available resources, we did a very good job,” the senior medical practitioner declared.

He pointed out that while the hospital looks to recover from the insults of the COVID-19 pandemic and faces a new viral threat of Monkeypox, there is planning for what comes next.

Looking back at the highlights of his career at the QEH, Dr Cave identified his management of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as one.

“From the time I took over the NICU, we have seen a dramatic drop in the death rates. And I think that was due to services we implemented when we opened the NICU,” he said.

Dr Cave said that although he has left the QEH, he will continue to teach paediatrics at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, train nurses in paediatrics and human resource development through the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence which he heads, and remain with the World Paediatric Project to share his expertise with other Caribbean neighbours.

He said many children in other parts of the region do not enjoy full health care benefits and with international assistance, they are brought to Barbados and given the necessary care.

“It’s a slowing down, but not a stopping. I will still be running my office,” Dr Cave told Barbados TODAY.

Dr Chaynie Williams is now Acting Director of Medical Services.

(emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb)

You may also like

About Us

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

Useful Links

Get Our News

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

BT Lifestyle

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Accept Privacy Policy

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00