Thirty registered nurses from across the public healthcare sector have been selected to participate in the Public Hospitals Authority’s first Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Diploma Programme.

Mr. Herbert Brown, Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), said the implementation of the Psychiatric Diploma Programme is indicative of public health officials’ recognition that expanding access to Mental Health Services -- whether in the hospitals or the community – should be part of a larger strategy for raising the standards of healthcare for all Bahamians.

Mr. Brown said participation in the one-year Diploma Programme will not only allow the registered nurses to expand their knowledge and understanding of the concepts of mental health and mental illness, but also allow for the delivery of competent, safe, ethical, psycho-social, physical and spiritual care to clients with mental illnesses, their caregivers, families and communities.

“Each of you has been pulled from the dynamic and ever-evolving clinical environment to take your place in a very extensive programme of advanced study and training,” Mr. Brown told participants during the programme’s launch Monday, September 5, 2016 at PHA.

“I fully expect the next year to be not only challenging, but also enlightening and very rewarding as you find yourselves building not only your base of knowledge and experience, but (also) broadening your clinical and leadership skills as well.

“The design and implementation of this diploma programme is the level of team work and leadership that must continue across our system if we are to eliminate the word un-trained from our vocabulary,” Mr. Brown added.

The PHA boss said health is central to The Bahamas’ development as a country and is not only a prerequisite, but also an indicator and an outcome of sustainable development. Mental health, he said, plays a key role in the process of ensuring sustainable health at various levels for all.

“The axiom ‘There is no health without mental health’ speaks to our national recognition of expanding access to mental health services – whether in our hospitals or within the community as part of our larger strategy of raising the standards of healthcare for all Bahamians,” Mr. Brown said.

“Indeed, I am proud of the efforts and commitment of our team at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre as they have clearly committed themselves to ensuring the general improvement in quality of life of mental health and gerontology patients; children with mental challenges; and persons with substance abuse challenges.”

Mr. Brown said the launch of the programme coincides with the renewed focus on improving mental health outcomes throughout the public healthcare network. He said improvements/expansions to infrastructure, programmes and services at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, have been a part of this mandate and vision, and have made SRC one of the more innovative acute inpatient and outpatient facilities within the region and indeed the world.

The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) launched its first Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Diploma Programme, Monday, September 5, at PHA's Corporate Training Centre. Thirty Nurses from across the public healthcare sector were selected to form the first cohort of students for the programme. PHA Managing Director Herbert Brown is shown addressing the nurses during Monday's launch. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

“Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre is The Bahamas’ national resource for mental health, gerontology, adolescents with mental disorders and substance abuse services,” Mr. Brown said. “This one-stop delivery of care is not only unique for The Bahamas, but for the region.

“There are indeed many specialized in-patient facilities around the world that offer combined medical and psychiatric care, however, Sandilands stands among the most innovative acute inpatient and outpatient facilities and in fact, is internationally-recognized in the region for its substance abuse programmes.

“Indeed, during the past several years, we have experienced significant progress in the improvement of our healthcare services.”

Mr. Brown said in addition to the “unprecedented growth and expansion” of the infrastructure at all of their hospitals, the Government of The Bahamas, through the Public Hospitals Authority, has made significant investments in upgrading the skills of healthcare providers across the public healthcare system “as a matter of great importance.”

“In fact, between 2012 to July, 2016, we have invested more than $7Million on training and development of which a large portion (51 per cent) was spent on the training and re-training of Nurses and Support Staff in areas such as Ophthalmic Nursing, Critical Care, Midwifery, Master Mentorship and Patient Care Assistant, just to name a few.

“But while these investments are critical to the advancement of health in our Public Healthcare System, to fulfill the Government’s mandate for National Health Insurance, every person has an obligation – whether a Nurse, Doctor, Administrator or Support Staff – to be committed to the transformation of our Public Healthcare Systems so that our patients will not only see, but feel, the difference in the quality and delivery of the services we provide.

“You are all exceptional leaders in your own right and with your continued commitment and dedication, I know we can and will give every resident of The Bahamas not only the quality of Health Services they expect, but the kind of Health Services that are on par with the best in the Developed World,” Mr. Brown added.

By Matt MauraBahamas Information Services