Doctors’ posts full on Sister Islands
Dental Auxiliary Nurse Alice Naimool-Loraine (left) and
Dental Assistant Jennifer Dixon attend a patient.
The Hon. Anthony Eden (centre) and Sister Islands
MLA Moses Kirkconnell (2nd from right) with officials
from the Health Ministry, the Airport Authority, Health
Services and the Agriculture Department.
Thursday, July 7, 2005
All four doctors’ positions at Faith Hospital are covered by replacement
staff or locum doctors, Cayman Net News has learned.
Medical Officer in Charge (MOIC) of Faith Hospital Dr Delroy Jefferson, who
was also the anaesthetist for the Island, resigned the position a month ago in
order to further his academic career. Anaesthetist Dr Denise Mulgrave has
taken a position at the Brac hospital for one year, it is understood.
Internist and General Practitioner Dr Bill Newsome, who is the current MOIC,
will be leaving the Brac at the end of July for personal reasons, and Acting
CEO of the HSA Ms Shirline Henriques has confirmed that the HSA is in the
process of recruiting to replace him.
Ms Henriques also confirmed that a locum doctor, Dr Eamon Kavanagh, is
filling in for Surgeon Dr Srirangan Velusamy, who is on vacation and will
return to the Island in September.
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Venkamma Bonigi also left for a vacation
at the beginning of July and will return at the end of August. While she is
away, her position will be filled by locum doctors.
Health Minister, the Hon Anthony Eden, recently visited the Health Service
facilities on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Accompanying the Minister from
Grand Cayman were Permanent Secretary Andrea Bryan, Deputy Permanent Secretary
Diane Montoya, Administrative Officer II Satina DaCosta, Medical Officer of
Health Dr Kiran Kumar.
They were joined on the tour by Dr Velusamy, Senior Nursing Officer Carol
Sue Ryan, District Commissioner Kenny Ryan and Sister Islands MLA Moses
Kirkconnell.
Dr Velusamy reported that the hospital had diagnosed and treated several
cases of cancer. He added that the operating theatre now included a ‘state of
the art’ laparoscope, allowing keyhole surgery and other delicate procedures
and diagnoses.
Dr Bonigi told the visitors that patients are generally happy to have her
services, from routine examinations to deliveries. She said that nine babies
were delivered in 2004 and eleven had been born so far this year. Her
section’s only pressing need is a new incubator.
The Faith Hospital tour coincided with the arrival of a brand new
ambulance. It is understood that of the two currently on Cayman Brac, one is
being refurbished and transported to Little Cayman for use by Health Service
staff on that Island.
The Minister also saw a new 3-D colour ultrasound machine, which is now in
use. Treatment space in the accident and emergency section has doubled and the
pharmacy has significantly expanded in size and function.
With two weekly visits by mental Health Nurse Dympna Carten, quality mental
health service is also provided. The only other need expressed to the Minister
during his tour is for the drug counsellor position to be filled, though
Cayman Net News understands that a suitable candidate has been found and
will be starting mid-July.
The Minister also learned that Faith Hospital is awaiting a new dialysis
machine, which Ms Henriques informed Cayman Net News was purchased by
the Civil Service Association Co-operative Credit Union. She said retraining
for the appointed nurse begins in July in Grand Cayman and will take a minimum
of four months.
There is one dialysis patient on Cayman Brac, who currently has to travel
to Grand Cayman for treatment. Once the dialysis machine is operational, it
will be used by residents and visitors, it is understood.
In spite of the small population, the Minister heard that Little Cayman’s
health services have been greatly enhanced in recent times. There is now a
resident paramedic on the Island, Andrew Baron, who has been there for several
weeks. There are also regular visits from dentist Dr Maurice McDonald and
Dental Assistant Jennifer Dixon from the Brac Dental Clinic, as well as by
mental health staff from Grand Cayman.
Dr Newsome visits Little Cayman once every week and the other doctors
rotate every Friday. Resident Nurse Mary Ellen Cutts (who is an
emergency/hyperbaric medicine specialist) treats eight to ten patients daily,
ranging in age from a six-week-old infant, to a 92-year-old couple.
Though small, the health centre has two examination rooms and a dental
clinic. A new EKG machine will soon be added to existing equipment. There are
10 to 20 emergency evening calls received each month, and health staff will be
able to answer them in the ambulance as soon as it arrives from Cayman Brac.
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