Tourists Thank Bvihsa Staff More
Talking Points host Damion Grange, a long-serving BVIHSA employee, says tourists and visitors routinely give more positive feedback about care than local residents. Acting CEO Dr. June Samuels warned that residents underuse preventative services covered by National Health Insurance, adding strain to an already pressured health system.
Talking Points host Damion Grange has told listeners that tourists and other visitors who access care through the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) often show greater appreciation to staff than members of the local community. Grange, a long-time BVIHSA employee, said surveys and anecdotal feedback point to a clear divide in patient experience. "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 on the show. "But whenever I survey our local community, it’s the worst care." Co-host Elvin Grant noted hospital staff frequently complain they are "underpaid and overworked," a sentiment commonly raised in public discussion about health services.
Grange defended BVIHSA staff and the organisation, rejecting the idea that poorer local reviews mean lack of commitment. He said some members of the public bring "unreasonable expectations" to public facilities, acting as if they are private clinics and expecting staff to be "at your beck and call." He added that many employees "go above and beyond" because working in public health is more than just a job for them.
The conversation also turned to how cultural attitudes affect health outcomes. Grange argued many residents delay seeking treatment until conditions become severe, creating heavier, more costly demands on the system. June Samuels reinforced that point, noting the underuse of preventative care despite annual preventive services being covered under the territory’s National Health Insurance (NHI). "Some of us, we’re sick for a long time before we go [to the doctor]," Dr.
Samuels said, and she pointed to research showing residents are not fully taking advantage of NHI-covered preventive care. That gap has pushed the BVIHSA and partner organisations to run education campaigns to change behaviour — efforts Dr. Samuels said carry financial costs and often fall outside the authority’s core mandate.
The remarks come as the BVIHSA grapples with rising public expectations, staffing pressures and financial constraints. Officials say growing demand for services, and the need to provide care beyond what is directly reimbursed through NHI, places added strain on resources. For residents, officials and health workers alike, the discussion underlines two practical steps: better use of preventative services to avoid advanced illness, and patience and respect for public health staff who continue to provide care under pressure.
Primary source: BVI News