Tourists show more gratitude to BVIHSA staff than locals
Talking Points host Damion Grange has expressed that tourists and other visitors who access care through the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) often show greater appreciation to the staff than members of the local community.
Grange, a long-time employee of the BVIHSA, said when he surveys patients who present at healthcare facilities, he observes a clear divide in feedback.
“When I survey our guests who don’t regularly access care from the HSA, they have the best care — their experience is superb,” he said during a recent episode of the talk show. “But whenever I survey our local community, it’s the worst care.”
Talking Points co-host Elvin Grant noted that hospital staff are known for complaining about their jobs, adding that many say they are “underpaid and overworked.”
However, Grange defended BVIHSA staff and the organisation, saying while some staff may complain the local public generally has “unreasonable expectations” when they present to public healthcare centres across the territory.
“There is an unreasonable expectation that when you come to the public sector, you are coming into a private facility and they must be at your beck and call,” he said while rejecting the idea that poor local reviews mean staff are not committed.
“Some of the people that we have working for us, they go above and beyond. And they do it because it’s more than a job for them,” Grange said, noting that many employees could leave for other opportunities if money were their only motivation.
Cultural attitudes cost us more
In addition to poor attitudes towards healthcare workers, Grange argued that many residents delay treatment until their conditions are severe, a behaviour that affects the kind of care they receive and puts additional burden on the system. That point was reinforced by Acting CEO of the BVIHSA Dr. June Samuels, who highlighted the underuse of preventative care in the territory.
“Some of us, we’re sick for a long time before we go [to the doctor],” she said. She also pointed out that the National Health Insurance (NHI) system covers annual preventative care, yet research shows residents are not fully taking advantage of it. Due to this neglect, Dr. Samuels said, the BVIHSA and other organisations have been forced to invest in education campaigns to change behaviour — an effort that carries its own financial burden and falls out of the mandate of the authority.
The discussion comes amid broader and growing burdens facing the BVIHSA, which continues to operate at the intersection of rising public expectations, staffing pressures, and financial constraints. As healthcare demands increase and more services are required beyond what is directly reimbursed through NHI, officials have repeatedly pointed to the strain this places on the authority’s resources.
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So they’ll get better treatment
Damion I wonder why that so , is it because they don’t really care about locals seeing that it’s 95% expartiates there . Some are profesional and caring on the job and there are some hogs that shouldn’t be in that profesion at all.
how them nurses does treat we??
That is a nasty thing to say. It is well known that some of these locals have chips on their shoulders and if you are a local its worst. I will leave it at that.
Correction!That is a nasty thing to say. It is well known that some of these nurses have chips on their shoulders and if you are a local its worst. I will leave it at that
Correction again. Both locals and locals nurses have chips on their shoulders. And we will leave it at that!
Most of the nurses there are not even local.
I have had several interactions at Peebles and DDOS hospital and those doctors and nurses have always been professional. Im sure they have made mistakes because they are humans. But they are very compassionate and professional.
Honestly if you’re a tourist you’d probably be grateful for any average care abroad. But as a local that has to visit the hospital regularly, it becomes apparent very quickly how inefficient the whole system there is. Some of the departments have 3 nurses doing a job that could be done by 1, which actually just slows everything down. They either don’t want to make it any efficient or don’t care to because it’s keeping people in jobs.
Interesting Piece. I do Not know Mr. Grainge’s Position at the DDOS Hospital But I don’t think his Comments are Fair. In any Organization where people are Employed in whatever capacity, there are the Good, The Bad and the In-Between. In All Sectors ie
Government, Private Sector, ie Supermarkets, Restaurants, Clothing Stores, Barber Shops, Tourism, Gas Stations, etc, etc, After All, you are dealing with Various Personalities. No Two people are alike. Sometimes in Some Organizations Training is Available on a Regular Basis. But can you Train Negative Attitudes? Most times when Visitors come to the Virgin Islands and they meet Locals, and asks about Health Care, I can Guarantee you 99% of the Comments they recieve are Not Positive. There is a Large Percentage of Virgin Islanders, Those who can afford to access Outside health-care, They Go overseas. The Residents in Some cases are already Compromise in some cases depending on their particular Health Issue. And Yes, sometimes the Attitude of Some Staff NOT ALL make your situation even worse. Same for other Industries. If Customers Visit our Best Resort and they recieve Bad Service, Do you think they ever forget that Establishment? Bet NO. Not only that, They make sure to tell their Friends and others Not to Patronize that Establishment. Same goes for Government. Sometimes you call a particular Department and depending on who you are dealing with, You are treated in a Poor Manner as if you are a Bother to them. On the Flip Side, There are some very Nice, Professional, Efficient, Brillant People in most Establishments in the Virgin Islands, Just if you are Lucky to encounter them. That is why Training is Key along with Incentives for Top Achievers and Constant Formal Recognition is Importation. In Most Cases Customers frequent Establishments Mainly because of the Service they recieve from your Star Employees. Maybe You Sir should suggest having Cameras in some areas of the Hospital and Clinics.
Anyway, To The People who Makes Life Beautiful for Others, Keep up the Good Work!!! For those who can be a little more Tolerant with Disgruntled Customers, Extend a Little more Patience and who Knows? You Just Might Help Someone To Take Good Look at their Attitude and Win them over. Each One, Teach One. Maybe This World would be quite Boring if everybody had Great Attitude. Ha, Ha,Ha.
Tourist happy to find a place that doesn’t add “service charge” like all the hotels, restaurants,etc.
ETHICS . The government sets the example. NONE
A bad workman blames everybody but himself.
I will show gratitude to Nurse comfort and Nurse Cupid any day!!!!! Please make sure give them both a raise!!! I delivered in Jan of this year!! Both nurses made sure i was comfortable!!!!!
How many patients do they even survey?
1. Where is the stasticd?
2. Service to community and service to territory
Shold be taught at home
3 If a nurse is rude or a doctor is unprofessional that person will stand oit
4. Sad but true majority of locals feel they are entitled and does not even think it show appreciation. You know the password “You are paid”
So because of that mentality some of them see no need to be thankful
5. No matter what you do , they find ways of awarding and recognizing locals . Check out the stats. They ate fearful of recognizing the work belongers and other expats do. The churches that should be exemplary are no better.
Why would locals show gratitude when they don’t have to pay. Locals are uncivilized fools who believe healthcare is their birthright. Tourists have sense and know they live in a real world with costs.
lemme finish the argument right here, the tourists don’t know WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW, put that in ayo pipe and smoke it