Patient representatives joined health and social care professionals as well as delegates from the Government and non-profit organisations at the launch of a sweeping study of Bermuda’s health needs.

The event was hosted by Ayoola Oyinloye, the Chief Medical Officer, in partnership with the Bermuda Health Council.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: “The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment is a comprehensive assessment of our people's current and future health needs.

“It will inform our decision-making, including our progress towards universal health coverage.

“It also forms a crucial pillar of the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022-2027, helping us gain a detailed understanding of our baseline health metrics at the beginning of an exciting journey of reform.”

The assessment, launched on November 1, will be produced by a multidisciplinary team led by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, with support from across Government and the health sector.

It will focus on five areas: population profile and wider determinants of health; health behaviour and risk factors; causes of ill health and death; vulnerable groups; and healthcare services.

A spokeswoman for the health ministry said: “The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment will be produced by mapping current data sources, identifying data gaps and extracting and analysing data to produce a holistic and wide-ranging analysis of health needs.

“Numerical data will be complemented by gaining additional contextual insight into factors that impact health from healthcare service users and other stakeholders.

“This information will give the Ministry of Health the knowledge needed to “Agree Our Starting Points” a year one project underpinning the journey to universal health coverage, as well as delivering on this Government’s commitment outlined in the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022-2027 to understand our population health needs.

“Going forward, this will allow us to monitor the impact of universal health coverage on improving health outcomes.”

She added that the assessment will result in a report to be published by next April.

The spokeswoman said: “It will be data-driven, informed by evidence and asset-based whilst being pragmatic to enable us to achieve the remainder of the Health Strategy 2022-2027.

“We will be transparent throughout its development by continuing to engage with patients, the public and community and the private, public and non-profit sectors.”

The Government is supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to undertake the assessment.

Questions about the work can be sent by e-mail to OfficeofCMO@gov.bm.