The Heart &
Stroke Foundation of Barbados said farewell recently to former manager of the
Emergency Cardiac Care programme, Mrs. Gina Pitts, who resigned to take up the
position of Nursing Manager at Lakes Village in Mount Brevitor, St. Peter,
Barbados. Lakes is a development of luxury villas and apartments spread over 180
acres, with a range of exclusive facilities in a secure setting, including a
clubhouse, swimming pools, tennis courts and a wellness centre. There are also
public spaces that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors.
Mrs. Pitts had been connected to the Foundation since 2002,
when she joined as a volunteer and had been an instructor and instructor trainer
for Cardiac Care Support and First Aid training courses. She co-ordinated some
of the Foundation’s major Care for Life training courses, before being appointed
ECC Manager on 1st February 2006.
She will not be entirely lost to the Foundation, however, as
she has indicated that she will continue to give support and volunteer
assistance as an instructor as time permits.
Welcome aboard to Ricardo Thompson
Taking up the
position of ECC Manager from February is Ricardo Thompson.
Mr. Thompson, 43, a Registered Nurse, has a BSc degree in
Health Studies from the University of Paisley, Scotland and a Midwifery Diploma
from the Barbados Community College. He has previously worked at the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, King Edwards Memorial Hospital, Bermuda, and
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Barbados.
From 1984 to 1991 he was a member of the Barbados Defence
Force, and served in the Commando Squadron, the Medical Reception Station, and
then the Coast Guard, before making a career change to the health services
field.
After completing an associate degree in general nursing at
the Barbados Community College from 1991 to 1994, he joined the staff of the
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, spending some time in orthopaedics before settling in
the Recovery Room.
In 2003 he went to Bermuda and spent two years in recovery
nursing. Then it was on to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland where he
also worked in his preferred field of recovery nursing.
Returning to Barbados, Mr. Thompson joined the Heart &
Stroke Foundation of Barbados in January 2007, and had a short stint in the
CDP&R section before accepting the position of ECC Manager.
Mr. Thompson is excited about moving into the area of
management for the first time, and looks forward with enthusiasm to being able
to implement his ideas for the further development of the Foundation.
“This is an interesting time for the Heart & Stroke
Foundation” he said. “A lot of good work has been done, and we now have to use
our initiative to not only keep the momentum going, but to find new areas to
move us to the next level. I look forward to implementing my ideas for further
development of the Foundation.”
“Basically the aim is to get people across Barbados more aware of the need to be
trained in emergency cardiac care” he continued. “ This will entail touching
every door, be it business or individual. I’d like to get a number of major
companies involved, hopefully as much as ten, in a more committed way, to the
point of having them supply instructors to teach corporate Barbados, and also
move the training more intensely into schools, clubs and other district
organizations.”
Diversely qualified, Mr. Thompson also has an Associate
Degree in Computer Studies, and has certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support
and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
The Heart &
Stroke Foundation of Barbados said farewell recently to former manager of the
Emergency Cardiac Care programme, Mrs. Gina Pitts, who resigned to take up the
position of Nursing Manager at Lakes Village in Mount Brevitor, St. Peter,
Barbados. Lakes is a development of luxury villas and apartments spread over 180
acres, with a range of exclusive facilities in a secure setting, including a
clubhouse, swimming pools, tennis courts and a wellness centre. There are also
public spaces that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors. 
Taking up the
position of ECC Manager from February is Ricardo Thompson.
