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MPS in the Caribbean: a visit report

Dr Nancy Boodhoo, MPS head of operations in the Caribbean and Bermuda, visited the region in October and provides a round-up of the trip

The visit began in the British Virgin Islands on 17 October, where Dr Boodhoo, accompanied by Mr Al Neaber – International Service Development Co-ordinator at MPS – held a meeting with the Islands’ Health Services Authority. The meeting was with acting Chief Executive Ursula Wilson and under discussion were issues relating to risk management and current cases.

A day later it was over to Barbados, to meet with Angela Philips, the Executive Secretary of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP). Mr Neaber updated Ms Philips on a number of developments at MPS – namely the global counselling service for members, new educational materials, and the Caribbean and Bermuda portal for the E-learning site.

While in the country, further meetings were held with panel lawyers Brian Barrow, of Carrington & Sealy, and Pat Cheltenham, of Charlton Chambers.

Arrangements were put in place to link from the T&TMA website to MPS’s online educational material

Next up was a visit to Trinidad and Tobago. A meeting there with Mala Persad, Executive Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (T&TMA), yielded a further discussion on MPS’s counselling service and the local portal for the E-learning site. Arrangements were put in place to link from the T&TMA website to MPS’s online educational material.

From there it was on to Mount Hope Hospital, to meet a group of junior doctors. As well as conducting presentations for them, Dr Boodhoo and Mr Neaber discussed the various methods of delivering MPS communications to them, such as via email and the MPS website.

It was back to Barbados a day later, to hold a meeting with Francis de Peiza, Chairman of the Board of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). There were positive reports on various projects within the hospital, including those related to equipment and infrastructure procurement.

The visit then took in another presentation for junior doctors, this time at Jamaica’s Bustamante Children’s Hospital. Dr Boodhoo gave the presentation, entitled “Negligence and the Six Cs”, which covered negligence and record- keeping. It was given before an audience of 28 junior doctors from a range of public hospitals in Kingston. Mr Neaber rounded off the presentation by discussing further MPS educational products on offer to attendees and MPS members.

The trip then ended with a meeting in the Cayman Islands, where Dr Boodhoo consulted with Lizzette Yearwood, the chief executive of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, over risk management issues.

Dr Boodhoo said: “The trip was invaluable in assessing the changing needs of doctors in the Caribbean. Whilst education remains paramount, it is essential in the delivery to incorporate e-learning so that access is available to all.”

The trip was invaluable in assessing the changing needs of doctors in the Caribbean
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