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From left: Ambassador of Israel to Barbados, Mordehai Amihai-Bivas; Dr Chaynie Williams, Head of the Accident and Emergency Department at QEH; Dr Maxim Leiderman of Israel; Dr Nira Beck-Razi of Israel; and Dr Ann-Marie Hassell, Head of MICU at QEH, viewing the machine which doctors will learn about over the next two weeks. 

Training for A&E Doctors

 

Over the next two weeks, 30 doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will be trained to operate a new piece of equipment which will be useful in the accident and emergency setting,  where they called upon to make fast, timely and accurate 
diagnoses.
 
The GE Healthcare Venue 50 Anaesthesia Ultrasound machine is the latest donation to the Martindale’s Road institution, compliments a successful partnership between the Massy Foundation and Broadway to Barbados Charitable Trust (BTBCT).
 
While continuing its commitment to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), BTBCT is now focusing its attention to the creation of an improved Accident & Emergency (A&E) facility by funding new equipment; emergency care training of the doctors and nurses; and expanding its $200 Supply Pack Programme to include the A&E.
 
On Monday, the doctors who will be receiving this training  met their instructors, Dr Nira Beck-Razi and Dr Maxim Leiderman, both from Israel.
 
During a press conference held at the QEH, Minister of Health, the Hon. John Boyce lauded the support of Massy and BTBCT to the hospital, as well as thanked the Government of Israel for securing the services of two of their physicians.
 
Noting the benefits of ultrasonography, he pointed out that very frequently it can be lifesaving in the fast and uncertain climate of an accident and emergency unit. 
 
“Ultrasonography has been of useful benefit in evaluation of suspected cases of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, cardiac arrest, abdominal pain, abdominal trauma and in obstetric emergencies,” he highlighted.
 
“As with any good diagnostic technology the training of the healthcare team, both in the use of this equipment and in the interpretation of results, are critical. I am pleased that this programme also provides a holistic package that supports the training of members of the health care team in the fundamentals of bedside ultrasonography so that timely medical and surgical interventions can be made.”
 
Ambassador of Israel to Barbados, Mordehai Amihai-Bivas, said the training being provided by the Israeli medical professionals is another indication of the very important and friendly relations between Israel and Barbados.
 
“When approached about this initiative it was very easy for me to yes… To us, it is a token of our appreciation to those friendly relations, and especially as the country celebrates its 50th Anniversary of Barbados.”
 
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the QEH, Dr Dexter James also took the opportunity to thank BTBCT for it continued commitment to the hospital over the past four years.
 
“Broadway to Barbados Charitable Trust is perhaps the most sophisticated and advanced form of a public-private partnership you can find,” he expressed.
 
Dr James revealed that the Trust’s efforts to date have totalled over $2 million. The Trust has facilitated the operation of a new 12-unit Medical Intensive Care Centre (MICU) with modern critical care equipment and on-going maintenance support; the $200 Supply Pack Program, which has helped ensure daily operating supplies that facilitates critical patient care and caregiver protection and safety.
 
Chairman and Trustee of the BTBCT, Robert Bourque emphasised the importance of providing training, “We believe that giving equipment is of no benefit unless people are trained at a level where it can be very efficiently used to benefit all patients.”
 
He indicated that BTBCT continues to seek new partners as it expands its efforts to make available a higher quality of emergency and intensive care for the benefit of all residents of Barbados, including visitors to the island.
 
Director of Massy Foundation, Lennox Prescod, said the initiative has Massy’s full support.
 
“Broadway to Barbados has been working with QEH for some time and we really like the model that developed, in that the Trust doesn’t just give to the Hospital, but continue to monitor it… The sustainability to us is very important, we just don’t want to get involved in a project, give something and then there is no follow-up - we want to be sustainable in our efforts.” (TL)

 

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