Action must be taken to create an equitable, sustainable and affordable healthcare system for the island, a recently appointed senator said in his maiden speech.

David Rogers, an opposition member of the Upper House, said that he was motivated to enter politics in part because of his family’s experiences dealing with the island’s healthcare system.

He said that health inequality remains a reality for some Bermudians, and as an island Bermuda’s healthcare system faces financing, sustainability and infrastructure challenges.

Mr Rogers told senators: “For many Bermudians, these challenges are not just theoretical. They are not abstract policy decisions and for my family, they became very real and very personal.

“I am here in part because of what I witnessed when my wife needed treatment for breast cancer. I saw first hand the anxiety, the uncertainty and the frustration that can arise when a patient and their family are forced to fight an insurer for national care.

“I have experienced the delays that can occur in a system when time is something that a patient cannot afford to lose.”

Mr Rogers said the experience changed the way he saw the healthcare system and highlighted the human lives at the heart of policy decisions.

He added: “I believe Bermuda is capable of building a healthcare system that is both excellent and sustainable, but achieving that will require us to think differently.

“The most affordable healthcare system is not the one that spends the least. The most affordable healthcare system is the one that keeps people healthy in the first place.

“We must invest in our people before they are unwell. We must take prevention, wellness and early intervention seriously.”

Mr Rogers said that the island needs to move away from “hallway medicine” and ensure the healthcare infrastructure can meet the needs of the population.

He noted that he had spent 20 years working in different areas of the healthcare sector and he hoped to use his knowledge and experience to help address the challenges faced.

“Our island may be small, but our ambition cannot be,” he added. “If we are willing to confront the challenges honestly and work together with purpose, there is no reason Bermuda cannot build a stronger, healthier, more prosperous future.

Mr Rogers thanked the leadership of the One Bermuda Alliance for placing their trust in him and said he was grateful for the opportunity to speak to the concerns and aspirations of the community.

He said: “Service in this chamber is an honour that I do not take lightly, and I am deeply aware of the responsibility.”

Mr Rogers said the Senate holds an important place in the island’s democracy, calling it the “thoughtful” chamber.

He said: “It is a place for careful thought, deliberation and sober second judgment.

“It is here that legislation must be examined, not through the lens of politics, but through the lens of policy, practicality and long-term impact, not just the will to win based on tactics or technicalities.”

Mr Rogers said that as an opposition senator, holding the Government to account was part of his role, but added that good ideas should be supported when they arise.