October 30, 2014

Dear Sir

I am writing to you on behalf of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, to pay tribute to the heroic efforts by staff at KEMH and MWI to care for patients throughout Hurricane Gonzalo. The full Board received a report on activities at its monthly meeting and felt compelled to publicly thank staff for all they have done in an effort to keep patients safe and cared for.

Hundreds of BHB staff members left their homes and families to stay on site to look after patients as the hospitals went into lockdown from 7pm on Thursday 16 October to 3pm on Saturday 18 October. A relief shift came in as a soon as possible afterwards as clear up of homes and communities began.

In-patients at KEMH and MWI were cared for throughout. Emergency services remained available at KEMH and the Lamb Foggo UCC. When emergency surgery was needed during the storm, the surgeon and nursing staff were on-site to respond; when someone fell ill out East with a suspected stroke after the Causeway was closed, a way was found to bring the patient over and get him the care he needed; when a woman went into labour on Friday morning she was picked up by ambulance and able to safely give birth as the worst of the storm closed in on us.

Dietary teams kept every one fed; housekeeping teams kept us clean; facilities teams heroically kept patients and staff as safe as possible; doctors, nurses, lab and diagnostic imaging technicians ensured clinical services were there when needed; IT kept systems running; administrators worked throughout in the Hospital Incident Command Centre, managing brown outs, floods, clinical incidents, and evacuations. Though there are simply too many departments and people to mention, our thanks extends to them all.

A special mention has to go to the staff of CCU Upper and all those who ran to their assistance to evacuate patients as the CCU roof was damaged at the height of the storm. The Board was informed about how any staff member who was able, no matter what department, as well as volunteers and even staff spouses, went to help CCU staff wheel residents out one by one despite the flooding and tiles and slate falling as Hurricane Gonzalo ripped into the roof. The process took about 90 minutes. Their bravery in the face of a very challenging situation truly was heroic. Over 30 residents were safely evacuated and settled into the old Emergency Department thanks to their efforts.

I certainly hope we do not have a repeat of Gonzalo in the near future. However, knowing how BHB staff keep caring for the vulnerable and ill throughout all eventualities gives me great confidence that we would manage.

BHB staff have done a great service to patients, and to Bermuda. The Board would like publicly note how grateful and proud we are of their efforts.

I hope the community will join with me in thanking them. We all benefit from their dedication and courage.

Thank you once more.

JONATHAN BREWIN

BHB Chairman