Central America- Turks & Caicos Islands:
Cockburn Town Medical Centre
& Cheshire Hall Medical Centre
PO Box 1044, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI
Head Office:
357 Bay Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2T7, Canada
Tel+ 1 416 362 4681 Fax+ 1 416 362 7633
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital Prepared for Hurricane Matthew
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (Monday, October 03, 2016):- Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has formally activated its Hurricane Emergency Response Plan in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
Emergency Departments at both the Cheshire Hall and the Cockburn Town Medical Centre will remain open around the clock, however, the outpatient department and other clinics at both sites will be closed as of 5 p.m. today October 3rd until further notice. Essential hospital staff will remain onsite until the passage of the storm.
Arrangements are being made to relocate antenatal patients (36 weeks and more) to the hospital for their safety. Dialysis and Oncology patients at both hospital sites will be advised of any potential change in their scheduled treatment plans to ensure minimal disruption. Extended clinics may be considered after the storm has passed, if necessary. Elderly persons and support staff from the Grand Turk Wellness Centre will be relocated to Cockburn Town Medical Centre later today. Other high-risk patients will be determined by medical staff and contacted accordingly.
TCI Hospital is currently liaising with the Government’s National Blood Bank to obtain additional blood supplies especially O Positive and O Negative as a precautionary measure. Persons are encouraged to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Blood Bank located at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre today to donate blood.
There are adequate stocks of essential supplies, medication, water, food, and several days’ worth of fuel for backup generators at both hospital sites in the event of an electricity outage. The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital maintains an updated and effective, all hazards, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan to respond to both internal and external emergencies and disaster situations. Both the Cheshire Hall Medical and the Cockburn Town Medical Centres are structurally engineered to withstand a Category 5 level storm.
TCI Hospital Senior Management team will continue to monitor Hurricane Matthew and remain in constant communication with all sectors of Disaster Management.
Patients are reminded to visit their nearest community pharmacy to obtain an adequate supply of prescription refills. Medications should be stored in an accessible, dry location. Ensure all personal hurricane preparedness plans are up-to-date, avoid flood prone areas, and remain indoors until the all clear is given. Sand bags can be collected from TCI Red Cross locations across the islands. Below is a 2016 list of emergency shelters provided by the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.
Salt Cay: Club House, South District
Grand Turk: Green Door, Lighthouse Road
Community College, Lighthouse Road
South Caicos: Community Centre, Sarah Hill
Middle Caicos: Conch Bar Community Centre
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
North Caicos: Kew Community Centre
Lighthouse Church, Bottle Creek
Providenciales: All Saints Mission Church, Leeward Highway
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Notes to Editors:
– InterhealthCanada is a leading healthcare organization specializing in the development, commissioning and management of healthcare facilities.
– Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is privately managed by InterhealthCanada TCI Ltd on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. The healthcare facility has been accredited at the Diamond level since March 2012 by ACI Qmentum International Accreditation Program.
CONTACT:
Nikira John
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Office Phone: +1 649-941-2800 Ext: 71223, C: 649-232-5497 Email: njohn@PLS-P-WEB02, Webpage: www.interhealthcanada.tc