Denial of access to Health City ER?

“Health City remains committed to working with the Cayman Islands Government, the Health Services Authority and other key stakeholders to provide world-class healthcare services in the Cayman Islands. We look forward to continuing engagement toward the expansion and enhancement of collaboration in this area.”

Health City Cayman Islands

(CMR) The community is asking questions about the availability of emergency services in the eastern districts after yesterday's motorcycle fatality at Parker's Raceway. A misconception is that Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) does not have the capacity to deal with these types of emergencies.

However, CMR has confirmed that Health City has a fully staffed six-bed emergency room that is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

Some staff has shared that ambulance staff has been prohibited from taking patients to HC Cayman Islands after an incident some months ago. An email was sent to various HSA employees instructing them that they could be financially responsible for patients that fall under CINICO or have not been pre-approved by the HSA's managers.

In the case of yesterday's bike rider, Kashwayne McKenzie, because he is a government employee, an A&E doctor would have to sign off on a referral which then needs to be approved by the CMO in order for him to be able to get treated at HCCI.

CMR understands that the current policy directive is that all 911 emergency calls are routed through the government-owned HSA. The demand for ambulance services has been called into question before when the response times were delayed due to travel distance or road traffic. The hospital currently has 3 ambulance units with 32 staff members in total staff members serving the entire island, which includes paramedics and EMTs. They work around the clock in 12-hour shifts.

Each ambulance is compromised of 2 staff members – a paramedic and an EMT working in rotation.

One unit is stationed at the North Side clinic, one at the GT hospital and one at the West Bay Clinic. The GT ambulance provides service from the Bodden Town station to the Ritz Carlton.

In March 2021, Little Cayman received its first purpose-built ambulance. It was announced earlier this year that the Health Services Authority has purchased six new ambulances to replace its current fleet. CMR understands that 4 are reportedly coming in this quarter. This increased capacity will also include a new EMS station at the Church of God Hall on Shamrock Road before central Bodden Town.

Despite these upcoming expansions for the HSA many were left wondering why an existing four-year-old fully staffed facility is not being fully utilized.

This is not the only time that a person has been seriously injured in North Side or East End and could have benefited from immediate emergency care. In another recent motorbike incident, another rider had his leg partially amputated after he ran into the bushes literally at the entrance of the Health City medical facility. He was also transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town for surgery that could have been performed just five minutes away.

The outcry on social media for this option to be made available did not go unnoticed Sunday afternoon:

The issue may be that the government's emergency response policy does not allow them to take them to any other location except the Health Services Authority – which could delay crucial care by upwards of 35 plus minutes.

In late 2018 Health City opened an expanded emergency wing with an ambulance bay which allows them to manage all medical and surgical trauma specialties with the exception of pediatric emergencies. The ER physicians are supported by a team of experienced nurses who have worked in advanced trauma centers prior to joining Health City.

The Health Practice Commission approved the East End hospital to provide emergency and intensive care services. They confirmed that their ER physicians are qualified with Masters in Emergency Medicine and capable of managing various medical emergencies, including where there is trauma involving multiple organs.

CMR has reached out to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to inquire if there is a policy change that might assist those in the eastern districts needing emergency ambulatory care.