The Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has added a significant tool for emergency care with a cutting-edge CT scanner, generously donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This vital piece of equipment has already been used to assist over 500 emergency patients since February, dramatically reducing critical waiting times for stroke victims, trauma cases, and children requiring urgent imaging, while easing pressure on overburdened diagnostic units.
The hospital celebrated the official handover of the GE Revolution Maxima 128-slice CT scanner at a press conference on Tuesday, attended by health officials, medical staff, and representatives from the donor organization.
Neil Clark, CEO of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the church’s ongoing support: “We are deeply thankful for your generosity and commitment to improving healthcare. This donation is a testament to your dedication to serving our community.”
Clark emphasized the scanner’s role in streamlining care: “Previously, patients would have had to be transferred across the hospital to the diagnostics department, potentially displacing others. Now it happens right here in A&E, enabling faster treatment and closer cooperation between diagnostics and emergency teams.”
With over 60 percent of the hospital’s CT scans performed on emergency patients, the machine’s frontline location is crucial. Health Minister Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott described the launch as “a celebration of an important milestone in our efforts to modernize healthcare delivery in Barbados.”
Dr. Walcott highlighted the scanner’s impact on addressing overcrowding and delays that previously jeopardized stroke patients needing brain scans within three to four hours of onset. “Thanks to your generous donation, we can safely double CT capacity, reduce waiting times, and enhance urgent trauma care,” he added.
The device’s advanced imaging technology reduces radiation exposure, benefiting children and patients with head injuries. Dr. Walcott also mentioned ongoing upgrades, including a linear accelerator for cancer radiotherapy and plans for the hospital’s first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.
Sister Sally-Ann Wiggins of the donor church stressed their commitment to “building a healthier, more dignified future,” while Elder Claude Gamiette pledged continued support for Barbadian communities: “We hope this scanner brings hope and reminds all that the Savior loves us.”
The scanner’s installation forms part of the hospital’s broader modernization drive to improve emergency outcomes and diagnostic efficiency across the primary healthcare network.