HEALTH AUTHORITY HOLDS LONG-AWAITED REVIEW

Board members and Staff of the Health Authority of Anguilla

Speaking at the event at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Friday, October 28, hesaid it provided an opportunity to reflect on what had been accomplished and would help the organisation to move forward with greater purpose and efficiency.

“We believe that most of our healthcare workers try to perform their duties well within their prescribed area of activity,” he stated. “If there are some who fall short of the standard expected of them, the executive management must address these deficiencies honestly, fairly and in a timely manner.

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Board members and Staff of the Health Authority of Anguilla

“As an organisation, our ultimate objective is to achieve a healthier Anguilla. In order to do this, we must combine a variety of initiatives into a consistent and coordinated strategy. In the first instance, as workers in healthcare, we must all be dedicated to doing our jobs to the best of our ability, sometimes going beyond the call of duty to ensure that all the people of Anguilla enjoy a better quality of life.”

Speaking about health issues, Dr. Lloyd observed that, over the past several months, the services provided by the Health Authority had undergone many changes in an effort to improve its ability to provide a better quality of patient care.“We now have two internists, one on the district and the other at the hospital,” he continued. “Our hypertensive and diabetic patients are receiving better care earlier. Asyou are aware, diabetic complications represent a complex array of biological, chemical and blood flow disturbances. In combination, these systematically affect tissues in a way which leaves no organ unscathed.

Board members and Staff of the Health Authority of Anguilla

“Changes proliferate in the blood vessels, in the blood components, and in the connective tissue that extends from the renal basement membrane to the lens of the eye. We should not make the mistake of thinking of these complications as separate entities. We should look for the continuing thread which links together all these disparate features: in a word, blood sugar. We should dedicate our energies to achieving strict control of blood sugar at an early stage and therefore attempt to prevent the development of the chronic complications of this remorseless disease.”

Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Hodge, noted that a period of flux, turmoil and uncertainty had preoccupied the attention of the Health Authority thus delaying the normal quarterly reviews. He was pleased that this vital aspect of the organisation’s responsibility had now been resumed, covering three quarters of the present financial year.

Mr. Ralph Hodge

Mr. Hodge stressed that while the public expected an improved level of health service, the Government’s financial contribution had decreased significantly. “In January 2010, the subvention which previously stood at $21 million was reduced by $4.2 million,” he said. “This was a reduction of $350,000 per month at a time when the public was finding challenges to pay bills in a declining economic climate. The burden of providing public health services rests with a government, and there will always be the need for cooperation between the Ministry responsible for health and those responsible for formulating policy and executing the day-to-day management of health services.”

He stressed that it was important for every staff member to be a meaningful element of the Health Authority, going beyond the call of duty to ensure delivery of quality health services. “It is also time that a forensic review of every job and activity in this organisation be carried out so that, wherever possible, staff members and the various processes can be rationalised to more effectively manage the services we provide,” Mr. Hodge went on.
“The organisation must hold management and supervisory staff accountable for the day-to-day running of the Health Authority and that is where an activity such as what we are now engaged in, becomes so important…It must always be remembered that we are all partners in the provision of better health care services to every citizen and visitor on the island.”

The Acting Chief Executive Officer saw the re-introduction of the quarterly performance reviews as a launching pad for the renewal of a commitment to steer the Health Authority in a new direction of survivability in these difficult economic times.

The review provided opportunities for a number of senior staff members to present reports about the functioning of their departments for general discussion.