Governor Martyn Roper was introduced to
the breadth of services and advancements in technology available
through the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA) during his
tour of the Cayman Islands Hospital on Wednesday, 28 August 2019.

Accompanied by the Minister of Health,
Environment, Culture and Housing, Hon. Dwayne Seymour, HSA CEO
Lizzette Yearwood, Board Members and senior managers, Governor Roper
visited areas within the hospital where he interacted with staff and
patients alike.

Members of the medical staff showed
Governor Roper the latest in patient care technology within the HSA
to improve diagnosis, treatment, intervention and patient outcomes
including the 3D mammography machine, rated among the best in the
world. The state-of-the-art machine allows doctors to detect cancer
in the early stages. The technology is made available through
collaboration with the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.

The tour concluded with a visit to the
dialysis unit where Governor Roper learned about the higher than
average life expectancy of dialysis patients in the Cayman Islands in
comparison to patients in the United States. The crude mortality rate
of dialysis patients in Cayman last year was 9% compared to 16% of
patients in the US and the average life span of Cayman’s dialysis
patients is about eight years compared to the six years of US
patients *. This positive outcome is, in part, thanks to the care and
attention of the team and new developments in technology, including
the offering of continuous renal replacement treatment (CRRT) which
allows those who are critically ill to continue receiving dialysis.

“Investing in equipment and services
to provide better clinical diagnosis and patient outcomes is crucial
in the fight against killer diseases. I am impressed with the
progress that has been made, the dedication of the staff I met and
HSA’s plans for the future,” said Governor Roper as the Board
talked him through the future relocation of certain services to Smith
Road in 2020, expansion of existing services and addition of new
ones.