In response to mounting public pressure and recent tragedies linked to healthcare inadequacies, the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has announced plans to launch a nursing school in the territory.
This initiative, expected to be realized by 2025, was disclosed by BVIHSA Chairman Ron Potter at a recent community meeting held on Virgin Gorda, where frustrations over healthcare services have reached critical levels.
The proposed nursing school will be established in collaboration with H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and is aimed at addressing the growing need for qualified healthcare professionals in the Virgin Islands.
According to Potter, this development is part of a broader effort to strengthen the local healthcare system and provide residents with reliable, high-quality services.
Potter also shared that discussions are underway for a partnership with an undisclosed medical school that would offer opportunities for aspiring doctors from the territory.
This initiative could further enhance local medical education and reduce the territory’s dependency on foreign-trained doctors. Potter noted that the partnership is also projected for 2025, aligning with the launch of the nursing school.
These announcements come at a time when the BVI’s healthcare system is under intense scrutiny. The tragic death of Revovio Sprauve, known as “Bucky,” has reignited public outcry over the state of healthcare in Virgin Gorda and the wider British Virgin Islands. Sprauve passed away on August 30, 2024, after seeking emergency care at the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic, which was closed at the time.