Public health nurses are working in “dangerous and unsanitary” conditions and facing rising threats to their safety, the Democratic Labour Party warned on Monday, as the party’s president called for urgent government action following attacks on nurses.

Senator Andre Worrell chided the administration for what he called “chronic mismanagement, political indifference, and failure to prioritise frontline workers who continue to work under dangerous and unsanitary conditions”.

In a media release, triggered by the recent attack on nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Senator Worrell expressed concern over rising security threats faced by nurses and the lack of security provided for them.

“While they grapple with outbreaks and poor infrastructure, we have seen in recent weeks multiple attacks on nurses while travelling to and from work and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” he said.

“We extend our support to the affected nurses and wish them a full recovery while calling on the government to ensure that counselling and security measures are provided without delay. Adequate security must also be deployed at healthcare facilities to protect both staff and patients.”

Senator Worrell said the situation is “particularly dire” at the Psychiatric Hospital, “where nurse-to-patient ratios have fallen well below international standards due to staff shortages and government austerity.”

“Current staffing levels reportedly see a mere three nurses attending to as many as 54 to 60 patients per ward, with no on-site security present to assist in emergencies. This not only endangers nurses but also places patients at risk and makes it impossible to deliver quality care,” he admitted.

Senator Worrell also addressed the recent outbreak at St Bernard’s Primary School–which health officials suspect is hand, foot and mouth disease–which resulted in the closure of the school for two days last week.

He called for more openness from health authorities: “This approach to public health management must change. We urge the Chief Medical Officer and the Ministry of Health to commit to a transparent approach with timely updates and clear communication to the public, not secrecy and public relations.”

Senator Worrell also urged the ministry to “abandon its top-down defensive approach and instead embrace a culture of inclusion, feedback, and openness. Nurses, patients, and communities must have a voice in shaping the future of healthcare. Ignoring these has led us to this crisis.”

He said the DLP remains steadfast in its commitment to “defending healthcare workers, promoting patient-centred reform, and restoring a system in which health is a right, not a privilege, and certainly not a political afterthought.” (LG)

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Caribbean health leaders are to call on CARICOM heads of government at their summit to step up their global advocacy on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, warning that the region is falling dangerously behind international targets as the crisis intensifies.

With the two-day summit — the 49th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community — to get underway in Jamaica from Sunday, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) issued a call for the leaders to reaffirm their legacy of action on NCDs by attending the upcoming fourth United Nations high-level meeting (HLM4) on NCDs and mental health.

That meeting, scheduled for September 25 in New York during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, will be held under the theme, Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being”.

In an open letter and appeal to CARICOM leaders ahead of the summit, HCC President Dr Kenneth Connell called the moment “critical”, noting that the Caribbean continues to suffer disproportionately from NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental illness.

He said: “As unnecessary death and disability continue to rise, so do the associated costs of preventing and controlling these diseases which place a significant burden on the limited economic resources of CARICOM states – a crisis worsened by the impact of food and nutrition insecurity and climate-related disasters. Within the context of ageing and contracting populations and increasing economic and climate vulnerabilities, bold action on NCDs focusing equally on prevention and treatment and care is critical to promoting a secure and sustainable future for the Caribbean.”

The HCC head warned that the 2024 Port of Spain Grid and the 2025 WHO Progress Monitor both paint a stark and disturbing picture — the Caribbean is nowhere close to achieving global targets, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

The coalition, according to Dr Connell, sought to remind leaders of the region’s historic role in elevating NCDs on the global health agenda. In 2007, CARICOM heads adopted the Port of Spain Declaration, laying the groundwork for the first UN high-level meeting on NCDs in 2011. Several CARICOM heads of government were in attendance, giving voice to the Caribbean’s commitment to the issue.

Among the key asks from the HCC are: an explicit commitment from CARICOM leaders to attend the HLM4 and include it in the final communiqué of the forty-ninth regular meeting; endorsement of twelve regional NCD and mental health advocacy priorities led by Caribbean civil society; greater community engagement and investment in sustainable, rights-based approaches to health system strengthening; and leadership in hosting a high-level side event at HLM4 and ensuring representation from youth and people living with NCDs in official country delegations.

Dr Connell stressed that this is not just a health issue but a development imperative.

He said: “CARICOM has been globally recognised for its leadership on NCDs, including most recently with the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health. As member states meet in New York on September 25, 2025 for the HLM4, let us collectively demonstrate the leadership of CARICOM. Now is the time to lead again.”  (SB)

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Three nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were attacked by a patient wielding a sharp object early on Wednesday, in the second violent incident targeting the nursing community in less than a month, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to protect healthcare staff.

The female patient had the object concealed before she attacked the nurses, who received immediate medical and psychological support, the hospital’s communications specialist Shane Sealy confirmed. 

While the injuries were not life-threatening, the incident sparked renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals both inside and outside medical facilities. 

The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) urged health authorities to install panic buttons on all hospital wards and conduct a comprehensive review of security protocols. 

“And to the public,” BNA President Dr Fay Parris said in a strong appeal, “stop the violence against nurses. They care for you. Let’s care for them.”

“We also urge nurses to take proactive steps to protect themselves. Over the past two weeks, BNA has started facilitating the provision of self-defence sessions and ‘Safety First’ webinars—both eligible for continuing education credits. BNA invites all nurses, nursing personnel and nursing students to make use of this opportunity to learn the skills to protect themselves.” 

The latest attack comes just weeks after a nurse was assaulted near the St Philip District Hospital. The BNA had raised serious concerns then—and is now intensifying its calls for stronger protections.

A BNA team visited QEH in the aftermath of Wednesday’s incident and spoke to injured nurses, according to Dr Parris, who said the BNA was assured the matter is under investigation, that immediate safety steps have been taken, and that counselling is being arranged.

In light of mounting concerns from nurses, the association has invited the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and officials to a virtual town hall this week to address safety challenges. It is awaiting confirmation of the meeting’s date and time.

After the latest incident, the QEH issued a statement saying that the staff who were attacked, and others present at the time were understandably shaken by the event. 

“Immediate medical attention and psychological support were offered to all affected personnel. The matter is being reviewed by hospital management in collaboration with The Barbados Police Service, and QEH is providing full support to ensure all aspects of the incident are understood,” Sealy said.

QEH Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark added that the safety of staff, patients and visitors remains paramount.

He said: “We take this matter extremely seriously. The safety and well-being of our staff, patients, and visitors is always our top priority.”

Sealy added that as part of its routine commitment to continuous improvement, the hospital will use this incident “to reflect on and further refine existing safety procedures.”

Police Service spokesman Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite confirmed to Barbados TODAY that the incident had been reported to the police and investigations were under way. 

(SB)

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A pioneering partnership between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and global pharmaceutical firm EarlyHealth Group (EHG) is set to transform the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases across the Caribbean, offering new hope to thousands living with conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, certain cancers and metabolic disorders.

The two organisations have joined forces to enhance clinical research and genetic testing in the region, with a focus on identifying the root causes of illnesses that disproportionately affect Caribbean people.

The initiative will also support the development of a biobank – a large repository of genetic material – to help scientists study how these diseases impact people of Caribbean descent.

Dr Damian Cohall, UWI Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, described the partnership as a significant step in building the region’s capacity for health research.

“EarlyHealth will not only support upgrades to our labs and help with regulatory training, but also give our researchers more tools to conduct studies that matter to our people,” Cohall said.

Shaquille Williams, EHG’s director of business development for the Caribbean, said the company was eager to work with UWI to open up new opportunities.

“We’re bringing our global network to support the research that UWI is already doing so well, and to help push Caribbean health priorities forward,” he said.

The partnership was supported by the Barbados Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and is being seen as an example of how international cooperation can help small countries tackle major health challenges.

The long-term goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine, officials said, describing it as an approach that uses genetic information to guide healthcare decisions.

They further expressed hopes that the partnership and the initiative will position Barbados and the wider region as contributors to global medical research. (SM)

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Thirty-six students from The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus are now officially doctors after completing the five-year medical programme with the best results in recent years.

The new graduates took the Hippocratic Oath on Thursday during a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auditorium.

Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Damian Cohall, said 36 of the 37 students passed the final clinical exams, while another was granted a medical exemption.

Fourteen earned honours and four received distinctions, figures he described as among the highest the faculty has seen in the last five years. (SM)

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Barbadians now have a new comprehensive healthcare option with the opening of Bayview Laboratory at the new Bayview Urgent Care. Previously located on George Street in Belleville, Bayview Lab has joined its sister companies, Diagnostic Radiology Services and Bayview Hospital, to provide complete, patient-centered care under one roof.

Bayview Urgent Care, along with its laboratory and diagnostic radiology departments, is now open to the public with phased operating hours. In June, it will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., extending to midnight in July and transitioning to a full 24-hour service by August.

Well known across Barbados for its HPV and STI-4 self-collection kits, Bayview Lab has expanded its diagnostic capabilities to include a broad range of new tests. These include liver and kidney function tests, prenatal and thyroid panels, as well as screenings for colorectal, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer. In addition, the laboratory has enhanced its STI testing services to screen for Hepatitis B and C, Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2, Syphilis, and HIV (including both antibody and antigen testing).

Medical Laboratory Director, Dr Lyndon Waterman, described this expansion as phase one of the lab’s broader rollout.

“Our goal is to serve as a comprehensive health partner by equipping physicians with the diagnostic tools they need to provide exceptional care. As part of this effort, we will be introducing phlebotomy services starting July 1, 2025, allowing walk-in patients to access lab services more easily,” he explained.

At the official opening ceremony of Bayview Urgent Care, Hospital Administrator Jules Reid announced a significant new partnership between Bayview Labs and the international genetics firm, CariGenetics.

“We are thrilled to announce that Bayview Labs has partnered with CariGenetics to offer advanced genetic testing. With these tests, you will have access to Paternity tests, a cancer risk profile, your risk for developing kidney disease, and also a drug profile that guides your clinical team as to which medications will work best for you. These can be especially helpful for supporting mental health.”

Bayview Laboratory’s new home at Bayview Urgent Care marks an essential step in making quality healthcare more accessible to the community. With extended operating hours, a wider range of tests available and exciting new partnerships, the lab is ensuring that Barbadians have access to the quality healthcare they need, when they need it most.

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The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is accusing health officials of understating the severity of a scabies outbreak at the Geriatric Hospital.

Speaking during a press conference earlier this afternoon, DLP spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Senator Andre Worrell, claimed that at least 24 patients and six nurses have been affected, which is significantly more than the nine cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health earlier this week.

He is calling for the outbreak to be declared a national health emergency, highlighting ongoing staff illness, a lack of basic supplies, and worsening conditions that, according to him, could lead to wider community spread if not urgently addressed.

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Barbados’ top public health official has moved to reassure the public amid the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, emphasising that while the strain is spreading more rapidly, it does not appear to cause more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus.

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Leslie Rollock said a newly detected COVID-19 variant is more transmissible but does not appear to be more severe.

In a press briefing at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) regional headquarters on Dayrells Road, Dr Rollock provided an update on the nature of the evolving coronavirus strain and its potential impact locally.

She said: “As you would be aware, the coronavirus that caused COVID-19 is continually changing. It is becoming more and more transmissible, easier to pass from person to person. This new variant that has been discovered is, of course, more transmissible, but in itself it is not more virulent.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the new strain, NB.1.8.1, as a ‘variant under monitoring’ amid concern about the sharp rise in cases.

Dr Rollock explained that while the virus is spreading more easily, especially in the United States—a major source market for Barbados—the illness it causes is not necessarily more dangerous than previous variants such as Delta. However, she warned that because more people are likely to contract it, those who are medically vulnerable remain at greater risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalisation.

“It’s not because of the virulence of the virus; it’s because of the state of the person who would have got it,” she explained.

The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring developments abroad, especially in countries with high travel volumes into Barbados, particularly during the summer season, she said. Given the uptick in cases in the US, health authorities expect that this new strain could eventually reach Barbados.

Dr Rollock said: “For the average person, it is not an issue, but what we usually advise is that those who are more vulnerable—if you have a vulnerable person in your house and you have a cough, cold, runny nose—when you have interactions with them, you wear a mask. When you’re going out and you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you try to do your normal cough etiquette: cover your coughs and your sneezes, wash your hands and keep your unwashed hands from your eyes, your nose and your mouth.

“This new virus by itself is not an issue because it is not as virulent as Delta was. It’s coming down to the point that it might be for us like the common cold, but you know the common cold can cause severe disease in those who are vulnerable. So that’s where we are at with respect to this new variant.” (SB)

What we know about 

the new COVID-19 variant

• The WHO has classified NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring” as of May 23. This indicates that the variant is being closely observed due to concerns about increased transmissibility and potential impact on health systems.

• It is showing signs of increased transmissibility.

• Over 91 000 COVID-19 cases were reported globally between April 14 and May 11.

• The variant has already been detected in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Some regions are seeing rising hospital admissions.

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A scabies outbreak at the Geriatric Hospital has prompted public health authorities to review infection prevention protocols at the facility, particularly as it prepares to transition to a new location at Waterford.

Confirmation of the scabies diagnosis among elderly patients and the actions taken by health officials came on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) headquarters on Dayrells Road, where Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George, flanked by health officials, told journalists that although uncomfortable, scabies poses no major public health threat.

A team from the Ministry of Health had visited the Beckles Road, St Michael hospital on Monday and found that nine patients examined by a dermatologist were diagnosed with partially treated scabies, Dr George confirmed.

Scabies, a skin infection caused by mites burrowing into the skin, leads to intense itching and can spread through close contact. While not considered a disease of serious public health significance, Dr George acknowledged that it can be intensely uncomfortable for affected individuals.

“I must be clear, scabies is not a disease of public health significance,” he said. “However, it is very uncomfortable, it is very itchy, and it can spread. This is not the first time we have had scabies in the Geriatric Hospital, and as I have said from time to time, the patient population at the Geriatric Hospital is indeed susceptible—they are a vulnerable population.”

This outbreak follows a previous announcement last week in which health officials acknowledged reports of an unusual skin condition affecting patients at the facility. Since then, the ministry has been quietly investigating the situation. Dr George noted that the issue gained attention after a staff member was diagnosed with scabies.

“There was a staff member who went to a private sector doctor, and he diagnosed her with scabies. That led to red flags on our end,” he said. “The public needs to know that we will get over this. This is not a cause for major concern or uncertainty. What we need to do is to make sure that we can contain it. We understand what the situation is; treatment has been instituted. It’s a single-dose treatment which may be repeated at another time. The single-dose treatment—we have two options, and we are exploring those options.”

Alvin Hart, the Geriatric Hospital’s infection prevention and control officer, stressed that protocols at the facility were being reviewed in the wake of the outbreak, particularly as the hospital prepares for the transfer to the new facility at Waterford.

“We are looking at all of our protocols, the training of our staff, we are exposing more staff to a lot of these things because, as healthcare workers, we can’t run from these things,” he said. “These things will happen. We had COVID-19 and we recovered from it, and this is in no way comparable to what COVID-19 was. We will continue to ensure that supplies are there; only yesterday I was told that one of our suppliers is extending a hand in donating some items to the hospital as well.”

Hart also acknowledged the challenges in identifying the initial source of the outbreak, given that scabies can remain asymptomatic for up to six weeks, allowing silent transmission. He added that supplies are being maintained and even bolstered, with one supplier offering to donate essential items to assist in the hospital’s response.

Consultant at the Geriatric Hospital, Dr Shayna Parris, stressed that the treatment currently being given to patients and staff affected is working: “Those who have already received treatment have reported that they have already had a significant reduction in the itching that is associated with scabies, and that is reassuring to us. Additional treatments have been prescribed at the recommendation of the dermatologist to alleviate this itching even further.”

Dr Parris added: “It can persist for a period of up to six weeks, so we do expect that some patients may have a protracted course; however, we will do everything we can to support them through this process.” (SB)

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Health officials have neither confirmed nor denied reports that scabies is behind the outbreak of a contagious skin condition affecting patients at the Geriatric Hospital, as frontline staff await definitive answers.

However, Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George has confirmed that it is “a dermatological condition”.

A private dermatologist conducted an in-depth assessment of affected patients at the Beckles Road, St Michael, facility on Monday, in an effort to identify the cause of the outbreak.

“Well, I can’t confirm,” Dr George told Barbados TODAY in an interview on Monday regarding the speculation about a scabies diagnosis. “What I would say is that the dermatologist will come in to see the patients today. And I believe that, in the interest of [the public], I think we need to wait and see what that [the skin condition] is. That is what I could say at this time—that it is a dermatological condition and we are getting an expert to come in and make a determination.”

Asked whether the situation was under control, he replied: “Yes, I’m meeting with the team today. If I have more information I will share. We have had this before . . . . People could say what they want to say. We have had outbreaks in the Geriatric [Hospital] before; we tried to contain it as quickly as possible.

“But it’s not something that I’m going to lose sleepless nights over because we’re going to sort it out. I said a week to ten days [in terms of updating the public] and I stand by what I said.”

Last Friday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that nine patients were being treated for a skin condition associated with an infectious outbreak at the hospital. According to a press release, treatment has also begun for staff members exhibiting “unusual symptoms”.

The ministry stated that it had activated its National Infection Prevention and Control Plan across all geriatric institutions on the island as a precaution, while suspending public visits to Units 1 and 2 of the hospital until further notice.

Although officials have yet to formally identify the disease, a well-placed source connected to the hospital said that the condition is believed to be scabies, and that patients received treatment over the weekend.

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by infestation with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, a microscopic parasite that burrows into the skin to lay eggs. The infestation triggers an allergic reaction in the host, leading to intense itching and a pimple-like rash. The condition spreads most commonly through prolonged direct contact and is particularly prevalent in settings such as nursing homes, where close contact and shared spaces are unavoidable. 

(SZB)

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