As the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) prepares to mark its 61st anniversary on Friday, officials say the institution is entering a new phase of renewal – one centred on empathy, staff training and patient-centred care.
The hospital’s spokesman and a senior medic took to the air on Monday, declaring hopes that a focus on service culture and modernisation will strengthen public trust and revitalise the lone public hospital’s relationship with Barbadians.
Appearing on the hospital’s Pulse Radio Show, communications specialist Shane Sealy and Director of Clinical and Diagnostic Services Dr Corey Forde outlined several initiatives being rolled out in celebration of the anniversary.
During the live broadcast, a retired nurse called in to commend the hospital’s progress but also expressed concern about the “unacceptable behaviour” she had observed among some staff members.
“I have visited the hospital on several occasions and I am very concerned about the behaviour that I’m seeing among staff in general, but when it comes to nurses, it does something to me,” she said.
Dr Forde thanked the caller for her honesty and long service to the institution, acknowledging that empathy remains a cornerstone of good healthcare.
“I don’t think you can teach somebody to be empathetic,” he said, “but you can certainly encourage them. I try whenever I meet staff… to emphasise the importance of that caring aspect, because sometimes it’s a kind word or an action that can make a difference in a person’s life.”
He revealed that new training programmes are being implemented across departments, including the Accident and Emergency Unit, where orderlies and emergency response technicians are receiving customer service training.
“It’s those simple elements of communication that help to sometimes calm and ease a person’s anxiety and fear as they come into the building,” he explained.
Sealy added that the hospital’s leadership is committed to continuous improvement.
“We’re trying to renew, and when I say renew, bring new life, breathe new life into a 61-year-old facility,” he said. “We’ve seen over $130 million in capital expenditure on new equipment and investment in staff training, and that’s something we haven’t seen in quite a while.”
Dr Forde also noted that the hospital is preparing to treat its first patients using a new linear accelerator, which will allow cancer patients to receive advanced oncological treatment locally rather than overseas.
He concluded with a call for unity and continued support: “We’re asking Barbadians to run with us – to help us walk when we stumble – as we work to make the Queen Elizabeth Hospital a place of healing, empathy and excellence for all.”
Among the major upcoming events is the QEH Open Day on Wednesday, when members of the public can tour the facility and see firsthand the upgrades taking place. The official 61st anniversary celebration will be held on Friday.
The QEH was officially opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on November 14, 1964. It replaced the Barbados General Hospital at Jemmotts Lane after 120 years. (LE)
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