Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board of Management Joseph King said that the time was nigh to move this island’s main medical facility into a 24- hour operational one.
“No longer can the theatres be allowed to run for 24-hours in a fully operational mode with down time after 4 p.m. and on weekends, occasionally being used outside the normal time only for emergencies. Here lies an asset that can generate revenue if we plan carefully and restructure our activities to this effect,” he told those gathered at the Hilton Barbados for the annual review recently.
Highlighting the limited financial resources of the Martindale’s Road facility, he also insisted that more be done to reduce the high levels of absenteeism as well as the high incidents of overtime.
In a speech, which spoke on the challenges being presented to the hospital, he told the managers that they would have to find ways to improve their respective departments with less resources.
“Each of you Heads of Departments both Administrative and Medical, must be reminded, that you must remain conscious of the limited finances allocated this year and that you must temper your increasing departmental demands while making every effort to improve both efficiency and production within your department. This call is necessary in light of the fact that each Government financed institution is called on to improve fiscal prudence on a National level,” King said.
He continued “If you are to obtain Departmental efficiency, then you must plan carefully and employ tighter controls, limit your demands for resources and find creative ways to achieve improved output. The Ministry of Finance has challenged us to find creative ways of generating revenue. This challenge must be embraced by all, and in the near future, planned revenue generating activities will be communicated to you.” (JMB)