Sorry bdafresh, I was at lunch. No, I was not labelling her letter a kneejerk response, I was referring to the tone of this board for the most part. Most people on here kneejerk to complain about things that they have no facts on without even bothering to clarify or find out what the truth of the matter is. They don't even care in some cases. CO and I just explained that there are trained professionals in the response teams yet, not one person commented on that, just to continually bash the gov't. It get a mite bit tiring to discuss issues with people who simply refuse to see that not everything is as it seems or even written up in the newspaper. Let nothing get in the way of bashing Brown and by extension the government. We could point out good things the government does and everyone goes quiet until they can find another reason to point at something wrong. Bit like tigga sometimes but in reverse.

But whatever. I'm just an anonymous poster who was kinda hoping to find more open conversations that what usually happens here. Thank god for the times I do find it though!

 

alsys - the following excerpt from the orginal RG article is the spokesperson speaking on behalf of the BHB. The average layperson would safely assume Bermuda does not have an adequate Paramedic program in place.

"Commenting on the training for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), she said: "Emergency Medical Technicians at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital receive approximately 200 hours of combined classroom and clinical training that meets and exceeds minimum training standards established by the US Department of Transportation.

"Upon completion of this training and successful examination, EMTs are certified and registered in Bermuda. In addition, EMTs are re-certified bi-annually.

"BHB is in the process of assessing its Emergency Medical Services with a view to establishing a paramedic service.""

As to your follow up question: "Is the ambulance service run by the Hospital or the gov't? I mean if it falls under the Hospital Board, why are we bashing the government?"

The Ombudsman and the Opposition and any right minded Bermudian tax payer would like to know ask the exact same thing.....

Trust me, the Government, and Brown especially has inserted itself directly in the BHB's way. If you only knew some of the shenanigans the BHB has been "forced" to deal with you would ask certain Government Leaders to step down. Unless of course you're in with the in-crowd.

Alsys - I think the real issue is not so much do the hospital or gumnt directly control the ambulance service but the fact that it's public money that is being spent, or not as appears in this case. This is directly controlled by a government that has an unhealthy (no pun intended) level of interference in all things medical on this island. 

The fact that us "PLP/Brown bashers" jump on every opportunity to criticise is irrelevant too. We are told this boils down to money. We have money. We have bloated expenditure on Cricket & Soccer, bloated travel expense and so on, and yet we don't have money to train and employ medical professionals to the desired level. That is government's fault. No if's or buts.

SG, I agree that the gov't does try to interject itself into the BHB but it doesn't succeed in all cases. And you aren't mentioning the BHB in any of your posts. My only point is that you cannot put all the blame on one person's shoulders who has no control officially. The Hospital Board makes its own decisions and in this case they decided that they did not require paramedics. That's deplorable in my opinion, especially since I pay to get myself certified in CPR etc every year simply to be prepared. I'm not disputing that just how y'all have gone about blaming Jack for Jill's decisions. Again, I'm not saying that the gov't is not to blame in some way but there's no balance in this thread... as in many others.

I enjoy this information sharing but not when there's no actual sharing. I've learned stuff on here but I often feel like anything I have to say in my defence falls upon deaf ears who only wish to air grievances and not actually listen. There are always two sides and I just wish people would remember that. I mean, who's to know whther the minister didn't inform the BHB that he had been contacted, and expected them to deal with their problem with staffing and safety issues? Mind, if that was true, he could have least informed this lady that he was doing so.

BHB doesn't even advertize for paramedics on their website but that is all the gov't fault, huh   

Reality - I meant to say sorry this morning as I was putting you into the group of people who did things we would rather not let our parents find out about. Sorry for not being clear

But on this topic, I did mention earlier that we do have paramedics in the first response team from what I was able to ascertain and that is indeed run by our fire service, which, if I'm not mistaken, is a government run outfit.

I know for a fact that at least up until a couple of years ago RN's (Registered Nurses) rode in the ambulances as well, and as has been pointed out, are even more qualified than Paramedics. Don't know if this is still the case.

Bermuda Hospitals Board established

(2) The Board shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and, subject to this Act, shall have power to acquire, hold and dispose of moveable and immoveable property of any kind and to enter into contracts and to do all things necessary for the purposes of its functions.

Hospital management by Board
6 (1) The Board shall, subject to this Act and any other statutory provision, have the general charge and management of the hospitals and any property moveable or immoveable appurtenant thereto.
(2) The Board shall—
(a) administer the hospitals generally in an efficient manner and in such a way as to promote the welfare of the patients of the hospitals;
(b) so far as funds at its disposal permit, promptly to make available at the hospitals modern methods of treatment of the sick and infirm;
(c) co-ordinate the administration and operation of the hospitals;
(d) make recommendations to the Minister on the development of the hospitals and the hospital service in Bermuda and on such matters as the Minister may refer to the Board for advice; and
(e) give effect to any directions given by the Minister under section 24.
(3) The Board may, subject to the provisions of this Act—
(a) build, construct or erect, or cause to be built, constructed or erected, any building; or
(b) carry out, or cause to be carried out, any works,
upon any land owned by, or under the control of, the Board where such building or works are calculated to facilitate, or are conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any function of the Bo


From bermudalaws.bm

Is there a list readily available with all the Directors that sit on the BHB?