Tony Gibbs, who conducted a vulnerability study of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in 1998, told Barbados TODAY that the hospital remains insufficiently safe, particularly regarding fire protection and roofing and suspended floor slabs.

But the QEH top brass countered that a recent PAHO Safe Hospital study index gave the state-owned healthcare facility a B rating.

 “The index is the result of an all-encompassing study, which includes a review of fire potential and fire protection systems,” Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark told Barbados TODAY.

The 600-bed Martindale’s Road facility, which replaced the General Hospital after 120 years, marks its 60th anniversary in November.

Gibbs revealed that his 1998 study had proposed short-term measures to be implemented within 12 months, at an estimated cost of $1 million.

“They did nothing,” he said, expressing frustration at the lack of action. “The short-term measures would have cost in 1998, $1 million; not more than that.”

Respected Structural Engineer Tony Gibbs. (FP)

Gibbs, 86, who was awarded the Companion of Honour in 2020 for his contributions to engineering in Barbados and the Caribbean, said that while some structural changes have been made since the hospital’s opening, most of the building remains in its original state.

“The focus of the study was a vulnerability analysis to see how safe the building is. It is not safe enough,” Gibbs stated.

He explained that while the steel frame is protected and would not collapse in a fire, major safety issues persist with the floors.

The engineer highlighted concerns about the SB slabs, made from Barbados clay, steel and concrete, which were popularly used when the hospital was built.

“That floor system is all over the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. There have been failures there. There have been failures there even in recent times,” he said, noting that these involve clay blocks spontaneously breaking and falling.

“So, I have written about that in 1998, and nothing has been done about it. They still have those SB blocks on the floors of the QEH.”

Gibbs cited similar failures in other Barbadian buildings, including banks, schools and warehouses. He recounted a particularly alarming incident at Victoria Hospital in Saint Lucia where roof slabs failed in a paediatric ward shortly after it had been evacuated due to plumbing issues.

The structural expert also pointed out fire safety deficiencies at the QEH, including a lack of fire doors for compartmentalisation and an absence of sprinklers on the wards.

“I think people will die if there is a fire in that hospital,” he warned. “But things can be done about it.”

Gibbs, who designed the Tom Adams Financial Centre housing the Central Bank of Barbados, noted that while the original 1964 structure forms the bulk of the QEH, there have been some additions.

“There have been some additions since then which probably are as good as the 1964 building,” he noted, referring to newer sections like the Lions Eye Care Centre and an extension on the western side.

But these additions do little to reduce the overall fire risk, according to the engineer.

He stressed that modern hospital design standards emphasise building facilities that eliminate the need for evacuation during fires.

This is typically achieved through a combination of sprinklers, compartmentalisation, and careful selection of construction materials.

“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital needs some work done for fire protection. The wards are not separated with fire doors, so you can’t compartmentalise the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” Gibbs explained.

“We can reasonably be talking about installing sprinklers which would be expensive, but not as expensive as human lives. And we could compartmentalise it. You could do horizontal evacuation from the area which is on fire to another part of the same floor which is not on fire.”

Drawing on his extensive experience assessing Caribbean hospitals for the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Gibbs expressed surprise that even newer hospitals in the region, such as the Mount St John’s Medical Centre in Antigua, have incorporated necessary fire safety features like fire-rated doors, smoke detectors and sprinkler systems.

“So, even a Third World country can do it; must do it,” he said.

But while the QEH’s Chief Executive said management accepted that the hospital’s infrastructure is dated, he drew attention to the PAHO study and other mitigating measures to improve safety at the medical facility.

“It is important to note that the Pan-American Health Organisation conducts periodic assessments on hospitals regionally and in September 2023, the agency conducted its Safe and Green Assessment at the QEH,” Clark said.

 “From this most recent assessment, PAHO’s Safe Hospital Index rating for the QEH is a B. 

“In addition to this, the QEH routinely conducts inspection and maintenance programmes, and simulation exercises to test the hospitals preparedness and response to incidents that may arise as a consequence of the facilities’ age.” 

The hospital boss, who has been on the job since March, stated that almost a year ago, the QEH’s fire response mechanisms were tested and its teams, with assistance from the Barbados Fire Service, were able to contain the situation.

Clark also suggested that the concerns highlighted by structural engineer Gibbs could also be resolved by building a new hospital.

“While these mitigation measures and contingencies have been established across the QEH to protect patients and staff, there is acknowledgement from management that a new hospital with modern design would also address the concerns raised by Mr Gibbs,” the CEO declared. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported on Monday that for the diarrhoeal samples tested, three samples from late May and early June showed the presence of rotavirus, in addition to the bacterial foodborne pathogens that have been previously identified.

The uptick in cases in persons older than five years moved from 34 at the end of April, to 76 cases in the week ending May 11. Since then, weekly numbers have been falling, most recently to 46 cases in the week ending June 15, but are still above the alert threshold. At this time of the year, the alert level for this age group is fewer than eight cases.

In children under five years old, the number of cases moved from eight for the week ending April 27, to 27 cases in the week ending May 18.

Rotavirus is a very contagious agent spread by contact with objects or persons contaminated with infected stool. Vomiting was a prominent symptom for many persons, according to health authorities.

Members of the public are urged to employ proper hand hygiene methods such as washing their hands regularly, especially before eating, and to continue to be cautious when purchasing ready-to-eat food items.

(BGIS)

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The Commission, in its effort to reach various segments of the population, through the theme “A Healthier Barbados, A Healthier Me”, engaged young people in a polo shirt design competition. Some 40 submissions were received from students from primary and secondary schools, both public and private, and The UWI.

The initiative builds on the implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy, by supporting the expansion of the health message across and throughout the school environments.

Entrants were judged by members of the NCD Commission in two rounds, with final tailoring by a Graphic Artist of B3 Imaging, who printed the polo shirts.

Thuo won two day passes for two persons each, to the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Resort. Second and third-place winners were Brooklyn Mascoll of the St Alban’s Primary School and Hayley Scott of Christ Church Foundation School, respectively. They received prizes of one day pass for two persons each, to the Sam Lord’s Castle Wyndham Grand Resort.

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A number of communities in St James and St Thomas will be fogged this week, when the Ministry of Health’s Vector Control Unit conducts its mosquito reduction exercise.

The Unit will concentrate its efforts in St James for the first three days of the week. On Monday, Wanstead Gardens, Husbands Heights, Santa Rosa Drive, Mid-Summer Drive, and Dracaena Avenue will be targeted.

The team will then go into Dairy Meadows Road, John Plains, St John The Baptist Road, and Bamboo Ridge, on Tuesday,.

The following day the Unit will spray Hoytes Village, Cavewood Road, Bagatelle Terrace with Avenues, and Hoytes Terrace. On Thursday, Center Lane, Kew Road, and Redman Village in St Thomas will be visited.

The fogging exercise will conclude on Friday in Welches, Welches Heights, Plum Tree Avenue, Terrace Drive, Padmore Village, and surrounding districts.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time. (PR)

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Commission chair Suleiman Bulbulia announced at Wednesday’s prize-giving ceremony that over 40 schools, both private and public, took part in the contest. 

“We were overwhelmed with the number of responses that we got,” Bulbulia said. “We were overwhelmed by the designs that were submitted. So it was a little bit tough in coming up with the final winners, but we felt really great because it was important for us that the young people are engaged in this discussion.”

The competition is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to combat the influence of unhealthy foods targeted at children. 

Bulbulia highlighted the gravity of the situation: “We have a major issue in Barbados [where] 80 per cent of our deaths are related to NCDs, so it’s a struggle we have to fight and numbers we have to bring down.”

The commission is working to remove unhealthy influences from school environments and hopes to extend these efforts beyond the classroom, he said, acknowledging the challenges faced by young people: “We know it’s a struggle; young people are being bombarded day in and day out with messages of unhealthy foods, snacks and beverages, and we are working on making sure that when they get to school, it’s not there and not within their environment. When they get out of school we are hoping we can work on that as well.” 

The overall winner of the competition was University of the West Indies student Akebulan Thuo, whose design was inspired by his personal health journey. 

He explained: “The idea of how to actually properly lose that weight and become healthy is what I want to promote with what I did today.”

Describing his winning design, Thuo added: “When I heard a ‘Healthier Barbados’, the first thing I thought about was running, because [cardio] is one of the first steps into becoming healthier.” 

He incorporated a tropical setting, featuring people running on a beach.  

“I decided to deal with the beach as the backdrop behind the people running, so people were actually running into the sea. The idea behind that was me thinking Barbados has a brighter future. It’s basically me saying [there] is better health for Barbados,” the university student added.

The NCD Commission has touted the competition’s success as demonstrating progress in engaging youth in the fight against NCDs, which now account for eight of ten deaths in Barbados. (SB)

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Speaking on the QEH Pulse radio show, Dr Margaret O’Shea, whose expertise lies in kidney transplantation, emphasised the pressing need for such legislation to expand transplant options and meet the increasing demand from the dialysis patient population.

“I think it’s well known we do have a very large dialysis population, and this is increasing year on year, due mostly in part to the increasingly non-communicable diseases,” she remarked. “So the best approach or the best option for our patients with end-stage renal failure is kidney transplantation.”

While dialysis is a crucial treatment, the specialist noted it was not the optimal long-term solution.

“Given the thought that patients who at this time would benefit from a transplant need a live donor, we are not doing as much transplants as we would like, because in Barbados right now, the option for transplantation is only the live donor transplant,” Dr O’Shea explained.

A major obstacle facing the QEH transplant programme is the lack of legislation for deceased organ donation in Barbados. Dr O’Shea underscored the significance of legislative changes to expand transplant options.

“We do not have legislation for deceased donation at this time, but the good thing is the legislation is in the works,” she noted. “The minister of health is moving in that direction to ensure that we can take steps to have more organs available for transplant generally.”

The medical expert elaborated on the advantages of kidney transplantation over prolonged dialysis. She said patients live a better quality of life, live longer, “and, of course, you’re not spending all that time on the dialysis machine.”

Transplants not only improve patients’ health but also enable them to return to their normal lives more quickly.

“Patients who get the transplant are certainly able to go back to their work more readily,” Dr O’Shea emphasised. “You just spend time taking medications so you don’t reject the kidney. It’s better quality of life and also better quantity of life and certainly more cost-effective for the hospital and patient…. It’s a win-win situation for both the patients and the healthcare system.”

Dr O’Shea said there were rigorous screening processes in place to ensure the safety of both donors and recipients.

“We screen our donors very heavily because we don’t want anything to happen to the donors. They get all of the tests done to make sure they’re very healthy and fit for surgery,” she explained.

The hospital’s live donor transplant programme has achieved impressive success rates, supported by its collaboration with international partners.

Dr O’Shea said there is a “close to a 90 per cent success rate at this time”.

“So far, all of our grafts have worked, but we do have patients who, because of underlying problems, do succumb to other issues,” she added.

To foster community involvement and raise awareness, the QEH is hosting an information session about kidney transplantation on Friday at 1 p.m. at the QEH auditorium.

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Over the course of the last week, the two entities facilitated a blood donation drive on the grounds of the National Blood Collecting Centre, located at Ladymeade Gardens, St Michael. Sagicor, a leading insurance and financial solutions company, provided the support of its mobile medical unit and team to assist with the collection of blood donations, and Barbadians turned out in their numbers in recognition of World Blood Donor Day, which was celebrated on Friday June 14.

Founder and brand director of Egi Women, Gina Cummins, said they started their relationship with the Blood Collection Centre about a year ago.

“We felt that this year, in continuation of our acts of service and community building, we wanted to find a partner who could help us to amplify the message and the importance of giving blood. Sagicor have willingly come on board with their mobile wellness unit,” she said. “The way we see it is if we give blood on a frequent basis, the Blood Collection Centre will have a ready supply of blood when people need it.”

Executive vice president and general manager of Sagicor Life Inc (Barbados), Paul Inniss said the company was proud to be associated with what he called a fantastic initiative to give blood.

“…Because we are actually giving back to our communities. We are adding value by personally giving of ourselves, and if you think about it, we are actually giving blood to others that need it, when they need it. I am happy that we had a fantastic turnout and contribution by our people,” he said.

Nurse at Sagicor Life Inc Rosanna Springer outlined the importance of giving blood from a medical perspective.

“You can have a mass casualty where multiple persons can be injured and require blood, someone could be having a procedure or operation, a mother could be giving birth and you need to have blood just in case there are any emergencies. You could also just be simply donating to the bank, to ensure that on a national level, we are always prepared,” she said.

(PR/BT)

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The prohibition on smoking medicinal cannabis in Barbados is sparking mixed reactions among patients and doctors, according to Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMLA), Shanika Roberts-Odle. 

At present, medicinal cannabis is mostly administered topically through dermal sprays, gels and creams. 

Appearing on a recent radio programme, Roberts-Odle, highlighted the divergent opinions on this policy, its implications and alternatives.

Her comments come amid an ongoing national dialogue around appropriate medicinal cannabis policies. Since legalising medicinal cannabis in November 2019, authorities have taken a cautious approach, prohibiting smoking as a method of administration, while focusing on the growth of an export industry.

“There are significant amounts of persons who I have met who have indicated that for them, there’s a certain level of hypocrisy involved in that particular position,” Roberts-Odle told the programme.

“Doctors that I’ve spoken with have said smoking anything, in their position, is not recommended. Others have said if there is someone for whom that is their preferred method of use, then, as long as they know that their patient is getting what they need and the patient is aware of the risk that they’re taking, they are fine with that.”

This regulatory stance has drawn criticism from some patients who prefer the rapid onset provided by smoking over other delivery methods like topical applications or oral consumption. 

Some medical experts have voiced concerns about the potential health risks of inhaling cannabis smoke. Critics counter that smoking for palliative care provides relief that far exceeds risk to a terminally ill patient. They argue that a paternalistic approach undercuts patient autonomy and the medical benefits that smoking can provide for certain conditions.

Despite the current prohibition, Roberts-Odle noted that many patients, particularly those in palliative care, prefer smoking as a method of administration, sharing that they are “disappointed that they’re not allowed that avenue at this point in time”.

Anaesthesiologist Dr Adrian Waterman acknowledged the appeal of smoking cannabis due to its quick onset of action, crucial for those seeking immediate relief. But he raised concerns about potential lung damage from tar and other particulates in smoke.

“I can understand why some patients will like that route of administration because, especially in the past, it was a much easier route because the plant, basically the raw product, was [involved]…. People would say that it was a faster route of administration and they liked that,” he said.

“Today, with therapeutic development, they have found ways to administer the chemicals in cannabis, whereby we don’t have to use the inhalation route as much to get a faster onset of action.

“Doctors will tell you, especially in the pulmonary field, that they are very concerned when people smoke and that travels into the lungs.”

Roberts-Odle countered by distinguishing between recreational and medicinal cannabis usage, noting that medicinal cannabis typically does not contain additives like “fanta” used in recreational smoking.

“Generally, the tar comes from the additional things that you put in it,” she said. “For medicinal cannabis, what is actually being smoked is just the cannabis… you don’t add ‘fanta’ and those kinds of things.” 

She also addressed the risk of public smoking and secondhand exposure, stating that if legal, there would need to be restrictions on where medicinal cannabis could be smoked to prevent exposure to non-users.

Pharmacist David Workman, another guest, suggested an alternative rapid-relief method without smoking risks: “Drops or a spray under the tongue where there is a rich blood vessel supply and allows for rapid absorption. I can’t say it’s going to be as fast, but it’s going to be fairly quick.”

Roberts-Odle shed light on patient-specific treatment plans, noting that legislation does not restrict what doctors can prescribe medicinal cannabis for, as “its usage continues to grow and your doctor knows you.”

“They’re able to make an informed decision on whether this is good for you and so we have not restricted the kinds of things that they can prescribe you medicinal cannabis for,” she added.

So far, the BMCLA chief revealed, the drug has treated patients with epilepsy, pain, muscle spasms and anxiety. Underscoring responsible usage, she said: “The same way we have to be responsible with any kind of other medicine that we’re using, medicinal cannabis would have to be under those kinds of context as well… everything in moderation and in the correct usage patterns.” (SM)

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St James will be the only parish visited this week when the Ministry of Health and Wellness continues its fogging programme.

On Monday when the team from the Vector Control Unit makes its first stop, Lancaster, Endeavour with Avenues, Apes Hill Development, and environs will be sprayed.

A return to that parish on Tuesday will see fogging at Wanstead Terrace 1 to 11 Avenues, Oxnards, Oxnards Heights, and surrounding areas.

The following day, Wednesday, fogging will occur at Oxnards Heights, Desert Rose Ridge, Wanstead Gardens Heights, Rose Drive, Lily Drive, Alamanda Drive, Carnation Drive, Begonia, Daisy Drive, and environs.

On Thursday the Unit will visit Independence Drive, Trident Avenue, Sugar Cane Avenue, Pelican Avenue, and neighbouring districts.

The exercise culminates on Friday in Blue Bell Drive, Croton Drive, Orchid Drive, and environs.

Fogging of districts will run from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., each day. Householders are asked to assist in the control of the Aedes aegypti mosquito by opening all windows and doors to allow the fog to enter. Persons with respiratory problems are asked to protect themselves from inhaling the fog.

Pedestrians and motorists should proceed with caution when encountering fogging operations on the street and parents are instructed to prohibit children from playing in the fog or running behind the fogging machine.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to affected communities as soon as possible. (PR)

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Dr Kristyn Kirton, a resident in internal medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, revealed that nearly 700 stroke cases were documented across the island in 2021 alone. “To put it into perspective, 700 cases might not sound massive in global terms, but for a small island nation like ours, it’s significant,” she told Barbados TODAY.
The statistics indicate that most strokes are caused by brain attacks, known as ischemic strokes, specifically blood clots in the brain, which aligns with global trends. Only about 10 per cent of the cases were attributed to brain haemorrhages. “This data is consistent with what we see worldwide, where ischemic strokes are more prevalent than hemorrhagic strokes,” Dr Kirton said.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a Barbados Physical Therapy Association Symposium on Strokes, at the Horatio Cooke Auditorium of the National Union of Public Workers on Dalkeith, aimed at educating the public on stroke prevention, management and rehabilitation.
Kirton noted that there had been a shift in the demographic affected by strokes. Traditionally seen as a disease of the elderly, strokes are now affecting younger populations.

She said: “When you were growing up, you’d hear about strokes affecting your grandparents. But now, we’re seeing 50-year-olds, 52-year-olds, even people in their late 50s. This is still relatively young, and these individuals are often still active in the workforce. This shift is alarming because it impacts not only health but also productivity and quality of life”.
The implications of this demographic shift are profound, especially with the retirement age being extended.  She pointed to the loss of productive years due to stroke as a significant economic and social issue.
“These are precious years that could have been spent contributing to the economy and supporting families. Now, due to stroke, many of these individuals are unable to work, which has a ripple effect on society,” Dr Kirton emphasised.
Comparing the situation in Barbados to the United States, she noted: “In the U.S., statistics show that someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. This highlights the global relevance of the issue and underscores the importance of taking action to mitigate stroke risk”.
Despite the lack of more recent data, the 2021 figures show a troubling reality, the medical practitioner suggested. “We see nearly equal numbers of men and women affected by strokes, which is somewhat unusual as certain populations might show a gender bias. This parity indicates that stroke is a widespread issue across our population”.
Adding to the concern is the fact that other non-communicable diseases, such as heart and kidney diseases, also plague the population. “We haven’t even touched on these other diseases yet, which further complicates the health landscape in Barbados,” Dr Kirton said.
She also shared her experiences with patients who, despite being at high risk for stroke, often display a lack of concern for their health. “When working with patients, especially those with diabetes, there’s often a sense of invincibility. They think: ‘My blood sugar is just a little high, or my blood pressure is slightly elevated; nothing will happen to me.’ It’s a dangerous mindset. Many of these patients end up experiencing a stroke, often on what could be the worst day of their lives.”
Dr Kirton also noted a worrying trend among middle-aged patients who, despite being aware of their hypertension, fail to take prescribed medications. “This is a recurring pattern I’m seeing more frequently. These individuals know they have high blood pressure and have been prescribed medication, yet they aren’t taking it. This neglect could lead to severe consequences,” Dr Kirton warned.  “High blood pressure, for example, is often symptomless until it reaches a critical point. Without symptoms, many people don’t feel the urgency to act. It’s not until they experience severe consequences, like headaches or blurred vision, that they seek medical help and start taking their health seriously.”

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