fp Turks and Caicos

“Where possible, contacts with appropriately qualified and experienced Belongers currently overseas have been established in the last quarter to ensure that we build a system which not only provides a high level of care but is also part of the future development of the nation’s most important asset — its people,” the company said.

“Recruitment continues with all nursing and allied health posts effectively filled and with just a small number of medical posts available but under offer,” according to InterHealth’s January newsletter.

The company also has been training local medical staff, including 118 staff members of Myrtle Rigby Health centre and Grand Turk Hospital. Also, 19 senior mentors have been identified and will undergo specialised training in mentorship with their certification being awarded by one of Britain’s premier higher education colleges, The Sheffield College. All work will be conducted in Turks and Caicos for this certification.

InterHealth also is hoping to collaborate with TCI Community College to offer basic computer skills training for its staff.

The company’s newsletter regularly fields questions from the community and offers answers. One person questioned the ability of the small number of beds in the two new hospitals — 20 on Provo and 10 on Grand Turk — to handle a major disaster.

“Building a hospital to cope with ‘worst case scenario’ is exceptionally expensive and not viable in any economy let alone that of a small nation.”

“The initial 20 beds on Providenciales were calculated to provide modern healthcare for a population of below 20,000 people and in particular, in a country where the population is a young one,” the company said. “Almost one third of the population is under 14, and only 4 percent is over 65.” A nurse and a local artist wanted to know why the hospital was spending so much money on “healing gardens” and artwork and not using local artists.

“The artwork at both Grand Turk and Providenciales Centres is being donated by The Foundation for Hospital Art that works worldwide providing such artwork for the pleasure and benefit of those who find themselves visiting a hospital for one reason or another. InterHealth Canada is not paying for this.”

“It has been known for many years that a tranquil setting aids recovery. Many people have researched this and in hospitals where there are quiet gardens, patients derive benefit from them either by sitting in them or being able to look out on them from their beds.” Both hospitals are scheduled to open in April.