Two new ambulances handed to public hospitals

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE National Insurance Board yesterday turned over two new “state of the art” ambulances to the Public Hospitals Authority to improve its capacity to respond to medical emergencies.

At a handover ceremony at PHA headquarters yesterday morning, NIB Director Rowena Bethel gave Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez and PHA officials two sets of keys for two 2014 Ford f-350 ambulances valued at $300,000.

According to Dr Gomez, the two ambulances bought by NIB will be added to the fleet of an additional 25 ambulances to be purchased by the PHA. Those vehicles, he said, will allow for the retirement of “aging vehicles” from the PHA’s existing fleet, and also allow for the implementation of the “decentralized ambulance service” to the public clinics in Flamingo Gardens, South Beach, Elizabeth Estates and Eight Mile Rock in Grand Bahama.

Dr Gomez said once stationed in those areas and fully equipped with the necessary trained emergency technicians, emergency response times are expected to drop from an average of 28 minutes to eight minutes.

“It is a priority of my government to ensure that the archipelagic geography of the Bahamas does not pose a barrier to the provision and equity of care to residents of our country,” Dr Gomez said. “My government pledged that we would improve the delivery and quality of care throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; (this handover) then is another clear indication of my government’s sacred promise.”

Mrs Bethel, meanwhile, said NIB was proud to assist in something that would further bolster the country’s healthcare system ahead of the implementation of the government’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

“As the government moves to implement universal healthcare coverage, adequate tools such as these ambulances, are an imperative to support this worthwhile programme,” she said. “I am sure that the Bahamian public now has at their disposal two state of the art vehicles that NIB is privileged to assist in contributing towards, and we also look forward to the partnership (with the Ministry of Health).”

According to Dr Gomez, the new ambulances are equipped with automatic transmissions and are customised with features that will improve “performance, reliability, patient and staff safety as well as improved visibility and audibility.”

The vehicles are also equipped with global positioning systems (GPS), high sulphur grade diesel engines, LED lighting, hydraulic lifts to allow the cabin to be raised and lowered, and a modular cabin “for ease through the narrow streets of New Providence”.

According to Dr Gomez, the PHA will seek to deploy ambulances to north Andros, Bimini and San Salvador in the coming year.

Comments

TalRussell says...

Comrades make sure assign pictures of the known be aggressively advocates for keeping the status quo insurance industry in place, Why blow taxpayers monies on new ambulances be rushing those that oppose Universal Health Care to da emergency department at government hospital. Make them take taxis or walk or whatever means they have get's them there.

Posted 1 December 2015, 3:45 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Each ambulance costs $150,000 .................. to transport gunshot victims from the streets ......... to the new A&E that cost $100 Million .................. such a poor state of affairs and drain on our poor economy .................. then add the man hours needed to try and save these gun-shot victims ....... WHY????????

Posted 1 December 2015, 4:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Nooooooooo says...

There is no way in Hellll that 2014 trucks in late 2015 cost 150000. they mussey stealing. Plus nassau is so small the govt could be saving up to 80% off if they buy them two to three years old, like the ones they just both.

Posted 1 December 2015, 4:36 p.m. Suggest removal

Chucky says...

Should have kept these in the package till round grad time, then the students coulda gone to grad in a new brand ambulance........

Posted 1 December 2015, 4:55 p.m. Suggest removal

asiseeit says...

Not to worry these ambulance will be destroyed through abuse and neglect shortly, they are government issue so no one will take care of them, FACT!

Posted 1 December 2015, 5:12 p.m. Suggest removal

rawbonrbahamian says...

isn't it time that we got a lie Flight helicopter those ambulances cannot pass through all that heavy traffic during peak times

Posted 1 December 2015, 7:01 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

You sure don't live in Nassau ............... what is a traffic jam when the streets are naturally only a one-way size ......... these drivers are better than in NASCAR

Posted 1 December 2015, 7:16 p.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

ok, so they do not maintain the prison bus, or the ambulances.

but helicopters, right, easy to maintain, easy to pilot. plenty election generals can fly helicopters.

wasn't there a fellow who cut his losses and walked to pmh, after the ambulance flipped over on shirley st.?

Posted 2 December 2015, 10:13 a.m. Suggest removal

Nooooooooo says...

hahaha, boy the expectation is very low for civil service.

Posted 1 December 2015, 9:18 p.m. Suggest removal

ohdrap4 says...

YAY, i am going to the prom!!!

Posted 1 December 2015, 9:32 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Better book one now.

Posted 2 December 2015, 9:53 a.m. Suggest removal

Socrates says...

Money well spent for a change.. Compared to millions of dollars to buy navy ships and airplanes for the RBDF to defend against who and what? 2 boats patrolling south of Inagua 24/7 could do everything you need to stop Haitian boats and turn them back.. A nation of 350,000 needs to be realistic with expectations and not hang the hat higher than we can reach..

Posted 2 December 2015, 10:48 a.m. Suggest removal

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