In
order to minimize
any potential transmission of COVID-19 within the hospital
environment and ensure the ability to sustain vital healthcare
services to the country, the Health Services Authority is cancelling
all elective surgeries and specialist services at the Cayman Islands
Hospital and Faith Hospital effective immediately. Patients will be
contacted to reschedule their appointments.

• The
  following outpatient services will continue with normal operations
  
  
  Dialysis
  
  
  
  Chemo
  
  Mental
  Health
  
  
  Phlebotomy
  
  Pharmacy
  
  Little
  Cayman Clinic
  
  General
  Practice and all District Health Centres
  
  
  Accident
  & Emergency
  
  
• The
  expanded Flu Clinic will now be operated out of the previous Mental
  Health Outpatient Unit as of tomorrow Monday, March 16 from 8am –
  4pm, Monday-Friday.
  
  
• The
  Flu Clinic in Cayman Brac will be operated at the Medical Wing of
  the Aston Rutty Centre as of Tuesday March 17 from 8am – 4pm,
  Monday-Friday.
  
• All
  Dental Clinics, (George Town, Bodden Town, West Bay and Merrens)
  and the Eye Clinic will be open for emergencies only.
  
  
• Paediatric
  Acute Care Services will be offered from the Specialist Clinic.
  Children with flu symptoms will be seen in the dedicated Paediatric
  Flu Clinic which is located in the old Physiotherapy department.
  

HSA
CEO Lizzette Yearwood said the organization will be making changes
throughout various departments, such as Pharmacy, by limiting the
number of seats in the waiting room and offering additional seating
in the atrium, in an effort to ensure our patients maintain a safe
social distance.

“We
understand that cancelling appointments is an inconvenience, however,
we are doing so in the overall best interest of our patients and the
community,” Ms Yearwood stated. “With the global outbreak of
COVID-19 we are taking these measures to help mitigate the spread in
our islands.”

As
a precautionary measure, Health Services Authority staff who have
returned from overseas as of Friday March 13th
will also be placed on home isolation for 14 days before returning to
work. These employees will be assigned tasks, where possible, to be
performed remotely.

“Protecting
our patients and the community is our upmost priority as we prepare
for COVID-19”.

The
HSA has also restricted all visitors effective 14th
March except for parents of children in the paediatric ward and those
accompanying mothers in labour. All doors into the facility will be
locked and only accessible to authorized personnel. Accident &
Emergency will be open to patients who require immediate emergency
care.

The
Health Services Authority is encouraging members of the public who
are experiencing flu like symptoms to contact the flu hotline on
1-800-534-8600, 947-3077 or email flu@hsa.ky.