Hospital patients will have “unprecedented access” to their own medical information under plans being developed at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

And the hospital is also engaged in “promising discussions” with external organisations to relieve its longstanding beds shortage, the chief executive of the Bermuda Hospitals Board said.

R. Scott Pearman told The Royal Gazette the move to a patient portal would “improve communication, understanding and decision-making”.

He explained: “We've undertaken a lot of research with our community this year, through surveys and a community event, as part of our strategy planning process.

“That research has shown that the public want this level of access and see its benefits when they go to hospitals overseas.

“We're excited about this too. Empowering our patients and their families by giving access to information is critical in how we are seeing services develop”.

Mr Pearman described it as “people-centred care” — part of a move to incorporate the community’s say into planning.

It comes as BHB works on its Vision 2030 strategic plan, with a draft to go public in the first quarter of next year.

The document incorporates feedback from more than 700 community members and hospital staff as well as partner organisations.

Mr Pearman said: “Everyone understands the financial constraints and the need to control health costs, but we must continue to improve every day and help support and enhance the wellbeing of our community.”

BHB will take in more feedback the first draft, with the final strategic plan to be published in April.

He said it would be armed with performance metrics rather than being “a document that just sits on our website”.

“I may work at BHB, but like every other employee, we also have to rely on its services when we and our loved ones are sick or hurt.

“We want to deliver the best care, because we expect it when we walk through the doors too.”

Meanwhile, the BHB is looking to address the hospital’s longstanding problem of a shortage of bed space.

Mr Pearman called it a complex issue requiring “multiple solutions”.

He added: “The circumstances causing bed space issues all relate to having adequate, affordable nursing home placements and care at home for patients when they are medically fit for discharge.”

He said it could be remedied by improved home care provisions and assistance in helping families modify homes.

Mr Pearman highlighted the need for long-term care to move from the KEMH campus as well as the need to boost skilled nursing in the community.

He added: “We find that most families want to take care of their loved ones at home, but affording skilled support is a challenge.

“There is no magic bullet to save us, but there are promising discussions taking place and a focus on partnership working with agencies and organisations outside of the hospital.”

He said the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute faced “very similar struggles”, with patients no longer in need of inpatient mental health services being housed at the facility.

Mr Pearman said it was sometimes impossible to discharge patients from MWI to a safe home environment or a more specialised level of care.

Following the activation of a response to a dire bed situation at KEMH last month, a government spokeswoman said the Ministry of Health and the BHB were working to ease the strain on the hospital system — with Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, saying it hampered healthcare professionals’ ability to deliver timely care.