By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AT least eight dialysis patients in Grand Bahama are waiting for surgery needed to maintain access for treatment, with some forced to travel to New Providence because there is no longer a surgeon at Rand Memorial Hospital performing the procedure.

Dr Duane Sands, who provided dialysis access surgery in Grand Bahama for more than 15 years before resigning from the public healthcare system prior to the May general election, said the backlog may be larger and warned that patients are in urgent need of the procedure.

“It has not been this bad in more than a decade,” Dr Sands said.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville acknowledged that sending patients to New Providence after Dr Sands’ departure resulted in delays, but said the Public Hospitals Authority is finalising arrangements for a vascular surgeon to travel to Grand Bahama and perform the procedures at Rand.

He said the chief of surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital is in discussions with a vascular surgeon to spend one day in Grand Bahama addressing the backlog rather than requiring patients to travel to New Providence.

“We feel to save the patient from traveling into Nassau,” Dr Darville said, “plans are being made for a vascular surgeon to operate and provide the services in Grand Bahama at the Rand Memorial Hospital.”

He said the arrangements are close to being finalised and expected the service to resume soon.

“I don't want to give an exact date yet,” Dr Darville said, “but to my understanding that service should be in place before the end of the month.”

Dr Sands said at least eight patients, and possibly more, currently need dialysis access surgery.

He said Grand Bahama patients had previously been able to receive the procedure locally rather than travelling to New Providence.

“We created a legitimate expectation that persons on dialysis in Grand Bahama do not have to travel to New Providence anymore,” Dr Sands said. “They can get their access surgery done in Grand Bahama. That unfortunately is no more.

Dr Sands said patients now either have to go without the procedure or travel to an overcrowded Princess Margaret Hospital, where they may wait weeks or months.

Dr Darville said the service had not been neglected after Dr Sands resigned. He said patients continued to be referred between nephrology services and a vascular surgeon in New Providence.

“Sands used to cover the service,” Dr Darville said. “When he subsequently resigned, the cases were referred to Nassau between nephrology and the vascular surgeon in Nassau.”

He said patients received treatment in New Providence once referred in a timely fashion.

Dr Sands said dialysis access is essential for patients to receive adequate treatment.

“In order for people to be adequately dialyzed,” he said, “they have to have a functioning either catheter or a functioning connection between their arteries and their veins.”

He described maintaining that access as a surgical specialty and said The Bahamas’ high rate of renal failure had made timely treatment challenging.

“It has been a challenge for The Bahamas given the incredibly high rate of renal failure to service these patients in a timely fashion, so they avoid infections or other complications,” Dr Sands said.

He warned that the consequences of losing dialysis access can be fatal.

“A lack of dialysis access can mean death,” Dr Sands said, “and has meant death for some patients.”

He said the situation requires urgent attention from the PHA and Ministry of Health and Wellness.

“This situation is critical and requires urgent attention,” Dr Sands said.