Up Front
After a vote of no-confidencein Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bryan Heap by the Cayman IslandsMedical and Dental Association, the Health ...
Minister Backs Doc
Government has expressed "full confidence"in Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bryan Heap, who was reportedly thesubject of a no-confidence motion from the Cayman Islands Medicaland Dental Society (CIMDS) earlier this month.
In a press release, the Hon. Gilbert A.McLean, Minister of Health Services, District Administration andAgriculture, stoutly defended Dr. Heap, who assumed the post abouta year ago.
The release stated: "The Governmentthrough the Ministry responsible for Health Services, wishes toassure the public that it has full confidence in Dr. Bryan Heap,who is not only highly qualified and professionally competent,is also an experienced manager who has worked assiduously sincehis appointment to the Cayman Islands Health Services Departmentone year ago."
The statement added: "He, along withothers, has assisted in the regulating of the professionals inthe health sector and in the delivery of a high quality of healthcare to the residents and visitors in the Cayman Islands.
"He has also worked diligently in helpingthe Health Services Department of Government in effecting thesmooth transition to a Health Services Authority on 1st July,2002."
The statement said that Dr. Heap has tworoles to perform which at times are not readily understood bythe wider public.
According to the release, Dr. Heap is appointedby the Governor-in-Council as Chief Medical Officer and in thiscapacity he chairs the Health Practitioners' Board (HPB) whichis charged with the responsibility of regulating the health sector.
This, it was stated, includes registrationand discipline of health practitioners.
"The HPB is independent of the HealthServices Authority and the former Health Services Department.In his other role as Chief Medical Officer, up until 1st July,2002 when the Health Services Authority came into being, he washead of the physician services at the Health Services Department,"the statement from Mr. McLean explained.
"In this position he was responsiblefor the management of the Physicians and Dentists practicing withinthe Health Service, having particular regard to setting and maintainingstandards of clinical practice and the professional conduct ofthe medical staff within this service. Under the Health ServicesAuthority this function remains, though his title has been changedto Medical Director."
The Minister said the Government reaffirmsits support for and confidence in the Health Services Authority,its Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the MedicalDirector (Chief Medical Officer) and the entire staff and commendsthem for their "diligence and efforts in continuing to providea high quality of health care to the people of these Islands".
Mr. McLean's statement noted that a letterfrom CIMDS to the Minister for Health Services dated 16th August,2002 on the subject has been received by him.
The Health Services Authority is a fullyautonomous body with a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor-in-Council.
Among its various responsibilities the Authorityis charged with building on the high quality of health care providedand maintaining a high level of professional conduct among itsemployees.