Approximately 67 percent of patients who are discharged from Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) are readmitted on a regular basis because of lack of care once they arrive home, according to a nursing official.

President of the Nurses Association of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (NACB) Rosemarie Josey made the disclosure while promoting International Nurses Day during a special ceremony earlier this week.

"These readmissions are often simply because of lack of education. Also, sometimes we find out that some families have dynamics in terms of having someone there to take care of them."

Josey said this is especially true for elderly patients who often require more intensive care at home.

"We would see that particular group often readmitted to hospital," she said.

The veteran nurse also said in almost all of the readmission cases, patients suffered from chronic diseases, especially those with hypertension and diabetes.

Josey added that health officials are taking a serious look at addressing the issue.

"I think that right now we are looking at discharge planning," she said. "We feel that once we have the families involved in patient care and discuss discharge planning with relatives, we would not see a lot of these readmissions."

Josey said the congestion of patients also places a burden on a profession that is already globally understaffed.

"But I must say that our nurses in The Bahamas and the Public Hospitals Authority are working extremely hard to ensure that our patients receive the quality service that they deserve."

In early March, it was revealed that a severe shortage of nurses could cripple the nation's development, according to a World Bank report, which named The Bahamas among a group of Caribbean countries that suffers from the deficiency.

The report noted that nursing shortages across the English-speaking Caribbean limit access to and the quality of health services and affect the region's competitiveness.

Pointing to the severity of The Bahamas' shortage, Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis said at the time that The Bahamas has 26 nurses to every 10,000 people, while countries like the United States have 100 nurses per 10,000 people.

Click here to read more in The Nassau Guardian

Bahamian law enforcement officers have been taken through the steps of responding to a potential chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear bomb attack, during a training course yesterday at the Police Training College by the U.S. government.

"Any first line response unit should have this training. It's standard training worldwide. So what we're trying to do is ensure that everybody has like-type training," said Dennis Ryan from the U.S. State Department's Anti-terrorism Assistance Program.

Ryan, other trainers and officials from the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas were all at the Police Training College yesterday for the session and drills.

The course in New Providence trained 25 police officers, with about 28 officers in Grand Bahama receiving the training last year. Those officers are also slated to receive $130,000 in emergency equipment as part of the course. The equipment will be granted through the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas.

"If you go to any other city in The Bahamas, Freeport's already had this training last year, we want to make sure all of your departments are trained in the same manner so if there are any interactions with one or the other, they both know what the other department is going to do."

Since its inception in 1983, the State Department says the program has trained and assisted over 48,000 foreign security and law enforcement officials from 141 countries.

The program trains civilian security and law enforcement personnel in police procedures that deal with terrorism, according to the State Department.

Ryan said that a terrorism event is not expected in The Bahamas. However, it is necessary "to be prepared to protect the public."

The officers trained with the scenario of a dirty bomb being set off, which included containing the device and responding to possible injured persons.

The officers were in Level A suits, which provide protection against direct and airborne chemical contact.

The Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) administers the Antiterrorism Assistance Program.

Click here to read more in The Nassau Guardian

High temp today: 90°F
Low temp tonight: 77°F

General forecast: A weakening high pressure ridge remains over The Bahamas.

Northwest Bahamas

Weather: Partly sunny and warm with few showers and thunderstorms mainly offshore, mild tonight

Boaters: Small craft should be alert for gusty winds and high seas in thunderstorms

Winds: Southeast to south at 15 knots

Seas: 3 to 5 feet over the ocean

Central And Southeast Bahamas

Weather: Mostly sunny and breezy today, turning fair and mild tonight

Boaters: Small craft should exercise caution

Winds: East-northeast to east-southeast at 15 to 20 knots

Seas: 4 to 7 feet over the ocean

 

Sunset: 7:48pm
Sunrise: 6:24am Tuesday

Click here to check a past or future Bahamas sunrise/sunset times.

Moonrise: 9:34am
Moonset: 11:33pm

High tide: 10:56am
Low tide: 5:00pm
High tide: 11:25pm

Click here to check a past or future Nassau Tidal times.

Tuesday

Weather: Sunny and warm with isolated showers

Winds: Southeasterly at 10 to 15 knots

Seas: 2 to 4 feet

Wednesday

Weather: Sunny with few showers and thunderstorms

Winds: Southeasterly at 10 to 15 knots

Seas: 2 to 4 feet

Source: Bahamas Department of Meteorology

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Development the Hon Loretta Butler-Turner thanked the Pilot Club Nassau for undertaking the construction of a swimming pool for persons with disabilities.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on Dolphin Drive on Friday, May 14, Mrs Butler-Turner said, “My Ministry is particularly pleased that the Pilot Club of Nassau chose to pioneer this project, leading us into what we hope to be the evolution of greater accessibility for persons with disabilities throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas.”

She explained that the Pilot Club Nassau has sought to establish a working relationship with the Disabilities Affairs Division in developing this project, which when completed will be the only such facility for persons with disabilities in The Bahamas.

“The Government needs and encourages viable partnerships to provide persons with disabilities with comprehensive services.

“We recognize that persons with disabilities deserve to be included in the same activities and programs as their able-bodied counterparts,” Mrs Butler-Turner said.  Real inclusion only comes when communities, programs and individuals look beyond a person’s disabilities and see their right to belong.”

A great deal of emphasis has been placed on the inclusion of children with disabilities in school activities, but less has been placed on their inclusion in community activities, she added.

“The construction of the pool makes bold statement that persons with disabilities like any other person, can realize their dreams, goals, aspirations and simple pleasures,” Mrs Butler-Turner said.

Elizabeth Burrows, president, Pilot Club of Nassau, said in 1990, the Club undertook to construct a swimming pool for persons with disabilities.

“To facilitate this project, the Club was granted a lease to 0.64 acres of land on Dolphin Drive, lot #35, by the Department of Lands and Surveys.”

Fundraising efforts, she explained since that time, primarily the annual Ebony Fashion Show and the Thanks for the Memories Ball have been directed towards this project.

The Club has also sought to establish a tripartite relationship with government and the business sector, for the construction and operation of the pool.

But she said nothing could have been done without the help of their corporate sponsors, which include the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation, Bahamas First Holdings, Gunite Pools, BSI Overseas, Bill Simmons Construction, Quality Convenience and Sweet Occasions.