Good morning.
Today’s announcement represents a major step forward in strengthening Bermuda’s health system and ensuring that people receive care in the right setting.
As the Minister of Housing has outlined, Government is moving ahead with the redevelopment of Channel House into a Government-operated care facility with dedicated space for medically fit-for-discharge patients.
I want to speak directly about why this investment is urgently needed and how it will improve patient flow across the entire system.
Right now, acute beds at KEMH are consistently occupied by individuals who no longer require hospital-level care but have nowhere appropriate to go. In many cases, this does not mean that a family is unwilling to have their loved one return home; rather, there may be practical barriers that need to be addressed before a safe transition can occur.
For example, a family may need time to complete minor home renovations, such as installing ramps or other accessibility modifications to allow their loved one to move safely around the home.
They may also be waiting to purchase or arrange for necessary medical equipment, or they may be awaiting an appropriate long-term care option within the community. Until these supports are in place, the individual may remain in an acute hospital bed despite no longer requiring acute hospital-level care.
This creates pressure across the hospital — from emergency department wait times to the ability of clinical teams to move patients through assessment, treatment, and recovery.
Channel House will serve as a transitional care facility that will support the transfer of patients who are medically fit for discharge from the acute care setting.
It will provide short-term care and rehabilitation services to help individuals regain independence and prepare for a safe and successful return home or to another appropriate care setting.
This is why the additional care beds at Channel House are so critical. Bermuda has faced a shortage of appropriate long-term care beds for years, and this facility directly addresses that gap.
The conversion of Channel House will add approximately 60 beds — a meaningful increase in community capacity that will relieve pressure on the emergency department, improve patient flow, and support families who have been waiting for stable placement options.
Government carefully evaluated alternatives, including the smaller 30-bed concept at MWI. After detailed review, Channel House emerged as the faster, more sustainable, and more suitable option.
These services are essential for seniors and medically vulnerable individuals who need structured support before returning home or transitioning into long-term care.
The Government will operate the facility through collaborative programmes between the Department of Health and KEMH, ensuring continuity of care and strong clinical oversight.
Operational funding has already been allocated in the last budget, and this project aligns with our long-term strategy to reduce BHB’s footprint in long-term care and strengthen community-based services.
Sixty beds will make a meaningful difference, but they are part of a broader, ongoing strategy to expand capacity and ensure that our seniors receive care in the most appropriate setting.
Channel House is a timely, practical, and necessary intervention. It will ease pressure on our hospital, improve patient experience, and strengthen the continuum of care for the entire community.
Thank you.
