The doctor who went public about emergency care issues that he believes puts lives at risk, says that he had been trying for years to present his concerns to the Bermuda Hospitals Board
Dr. Ed Shultz, Chief of Emergency from 1998 until 2018, says the hospital management were not receptive to his concerns that issues with emergency facilities in the new Acute Care Wing were putting lives at risk.
He went public with his concerns last week, and now the Ministry of Health has ordered an independent operational review of the emergency department at KEMH.
However, Dr. Shultz told us last week that while he was both Chief of Emergency and later a board member, BHB had “not taken my concerns seriously or acted on them in a serious way”.
WATCH the report above.
We reached out to the Bermuda Hospitals Board for a response to Dr. Shultz’ comments.
A BHB spokesperson responded:
“The Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) recognises the concern in the community regarding the current pressures in the Emergency Department, and we are committed to addressing these challenges with urgency and care.
“BHB has been in active discussions with the Ministry of Health, and we are aligned in our shared priority of improving patient flow, reducing bottlenecks, and strengthening the overall experience for those who rely on emergency services.
“We are moving forward with an independent, focused operational assessment to identify immediate, practical steps that can support our teams and enhance the safety and efficiency of care. Our staff continue to work exceptionally hard under difficult conditions, and we are committed to supporting them while this process is underway.
“We remain dedicated to providing timely, safe, and compassionate care for our community.”
Bermuda Broadcasting also reached out to Dr. Michael Richmond, Chief of Staff then CEO of BHB during Dr Shultz’ time on the board.
Now working for the National Health Service in the UK, he told us “Having left the Trust in December 2023, Dr Richmond considers any further discussion on this issue to be a matter for the current Board.”
