New staffing at QEH to improve patient care

Chief Operating Officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Christina Grenidge is expecting major improvements at the healthcare institution as it prepares to welcome significant staffing enhancements aimed at boosting efficiency and improving patient care.

The strategic additions include the roles of patient safety officers, a service improvement manager, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.

Greenidge detailed the transformative potential these roles are expected to bring to the hospital. Particularly, the introduction of nurse practitioners is seen as a pivotal move to enhance service delivery in critical areas such as outpatient clinics and emergency rooms.

“They can work in two very important areas of the hospital — outpatient clinics and the emergency room,” Greenidge told The Pulse radio shown earlier this week. She emphasised the need for clear guidelines on their scope of practice within Barbados, noting their established effectiveness in other health systems like in the United States, where they prescribe medications and manage patient care plans in collaboration with physicians.

“Nurse practitioners have made a difference in primary care, helping patients with chronic conditions live healthier lives. They will undoubtedly play an integral role here at QEH,” she stressed.

Moreover, the role of patient safety officers is highlighted as crucial in maintaining and elevating safety standards within the hospital. These specialists will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of patient safety, from monitoring wait times to ensuring compliance with medical care plans.

“Patient safety is at the core of quality healthcare management. These officers will play a key role in monitoring and ensuring adherence to safety protocols, which is vital for patient outcomes,” stated Greenidge, herself a certified patient safety officer.

This staffing overhaul is part of a broader initiative to address the pressing healthcare professional shortage that is not only a local but a global issue, affecting many countries including the United States and Canada. To this end, the Barbados government plans to create 142 new registered nurse positions over the next two years and is looking to recruit internationally, including from Ghana.

The comprehensive plan to reform the nation’s healthcare system was announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at a recent Barbados Labour Party meeting at the St Christopher School in Christ Church South.