Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill today announced the appointment of members to serve on the board of directors of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for a term of three years.
Additionally, he outlined changes and policy objectives designed to improve efficiency and quality of service at the QEH.
In a media statement, Gooding-Edghill said the “changes made to the board were decided upon after deep, careful and extensive analysis in support of the new vision for this critical healthcare institution, so that it can meet the demanding and varying needs of the people of Barbados”.
“The nature of the changes will bring to the QEH the benefits of access to a wide variety of management skills and experiences. This will equip the institution with the capacity to provide the leadership which is necessary to bring about the desired change in accordance with the mandate given to the board and which the people of Barbados have been calling for.”
During a meeting last week, members of the new board were introduced to the senior management.
The statement said that Gooding-Edghill and Minister of State, Dr Sonia Browne addressed the meeting.
“At that meeting, I stressed the importance of good governance and made it clear that the board shall be responsible for policy while holding the management accountable for the delivery of the board’s objectives and measurable results benefiting the public.
“At the first meeting I, along with Minister Dr Sonia Browne, laid out the new priorities for the board, including a recommended comprehensive six-pillar business plan focusing on 1. People; 2. Sustained capital plan and funding; 3. Improvement in service levels; 4. Revenue management; 5. Efficiencies on processes, systems, standard operating procedures and technological solutions; and 6. Health care financing.
Areas for improvement will include the creation of new patient experiences through a patient-relations concept for service interventions in the Accident and Emergency Department, on wards and the outpatient clinics; reduction in the waiting list for surgeries, cancer services; five-year phased capital expenditure programme implemented on an annual basis; and the acquisition and implementation of an electronic medical records platform, to mention a few innovations.
The Minister of Health said the changes “must be seen as part of the continuation of a process leading to positive changes in the daily tone and delivery of services to the public”.
He said, however, that not all of the objectives can be achieved overnight and, in this regard, Browne will be working closely with the board to ensure the ministry’s policy objectives are achieved as soon as practicable.
The minister said he had called and thanked the directors who served on the previous board for their public service and contribution to the QEH. (PR)
The new board of directors is as follows:
Mrs. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, Executive Chairman
Mr Nigel Whitehall, Deputy Chairman, Retained – (Law)
Mr Mubarak Nakhuda, Member, New – (Engineering)
Mr H.C. Dave Hinds, Member, Retained – (Accounting)
Ms Natasha Small, Member, New – (Finance)
Mr Cy Francis, Member, New – (Information Technology)
Mr Jon Martineau, Member, New (Management Operations)
Ms Sonia Connell, Member, Retained – (Nursing)
Ms Rene Brathwaite, Member, New – (Paramedical Services)
Ms Sheldene Matthews-Mottley, Member, New – (Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations
Senator Dr Crystal Haynes, Member, New – (Medicine)
Prof. Clive Landis, New – Representative, University of the
West Indies
Mr Dennis de Peiza, Retained – Representative, Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB)
Chief Medical Officer or nominee, Member, ex officio
Permanent Secretary or nominee, Member, ex officio
