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‘Support us, rather than break us down’- Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool

- said heart patients being sent overseas to receive treatment he can provide locally
Proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool has pleaded for support of his catheterisation laboratory. Photo: Facebook/File
The Bougainvillea Clinic, a privately owned and operated hospital in Road Town, Tortola, launched its Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory on Saturday, October 27, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
The Bougainvillea Clinic, a privately owned and operated hospital in Road Town, Tortola, launched its Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory on Saturday, October 27, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool, left, with Cardiologist Dr Mahendra Carpen at the one-year anniversary celebration of the clinic’s catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Photo: VINO
Proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool, left, with Cardiologist Dr Mahendra Carpen at the one-year anniversary celebration of the clinic’s catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) on Saturday, October 26, 2019. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “I believe that the government, politicians and various parties of this country should support what we are trying to do here rather than breaking it down.”

Those were the words of Proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool during the one-year anniversary celebration of the clinic’s catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) on Saturday, October 26, 2019.

‘Mercenaries’

Dr Vanterpool said there is a company who has set up shop at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, formerly called the Peebles Hospital, who are bent on undermining his business.

“I believe it is wrong. I have seen it over the years, where people have been an obstruction to the local people developing your services and wanting to bring people from outside. I call upon the politicians, current and past, I call upon the people in the Ministry of Health, both past and present, to try and recognise, that to allow the local people, to allow the cooperation with the Caribbean brothers and sisters to offer these services in the BVI,” he said.

According to Dr Vanterpool, the ‘mercenaries’ are “picking up cardiac patients [and] discouraging them from coming to Bougainvillea cath lab or to Bougainvillea services and sending them to the United States, offering to save this country money. They have certainly haven’t been saving you money.”

He continued, “For a single phone call, they are charging exorbitant prices. The leader of this group is not even a medical practitioner but walks up and down in Peebles Hospital, where I pay my taxes to maintain.”

Help me!

Dr Vanterpool then urged the government to help him in this fight.

“It is not an NDP thing; it is not a VIP thing. We have one cath lab that is functional in the British Virgin Islands right now, and it is doing an excellent job,” he remarked.

To validate his point, Dr Vanterpool said his one-year-old cath lab has conducted 69 coronary angiograms, inserted pacemakers, intra-cardiac defibrillators and drained large pericardial effusions.

25 Responses to “‘Support us, rather than break us down’- Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool”

  • wow (28/10/2019, 12:05) Like (53) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Vanterpool, I'm in agreement with supporting Our Own and utilizing Overseas as a last Alternative or Option. However, It is said that even though you provide great or even the best Services, the Fees are determine to be pretty much high. Maybe, if you consider lowering the Fees, more residents will seek your services, thus avoiding the task of having to travel.
    • wth (28/10/2019, 12:55) Like (52) Dislike (1) Reply
      Making a ton load of money and still bawling.
    • Linda (28/10/2019, 14:01) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
      Heskith and Eureka is the worst of the worst. They have made millions and continue to do so off NHI. But it will be interesting what they will do when NHI folds. NHI was a good idea, poor management and those in charge did not listen to anyone at all. NHI should have never BEEN FORCED ON people. What needed to happen in the first instance is to conduct a study as to how many persons in the BVI were WITHOUT insurance. Then have NHI for those individuals - then in a couple of years time, weaned those with private insurance to NHI. Now to go to the doctor for them to write a prescription costs over $200+ . Ridiculous...................Its a all a game - to determine who can steal the most from my dollars. But God dont sleep!
  • asking for a friend (28/10/2019, 12:05) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    He was helping the people in the last 8 years?what about when the ndp was blocking Frett? The world is a circle
  • Interested (28/10/2019, 12:12) Like (5) Dislike (15) Reply
    I support you Doc.Always have.
  • Bad spending (28/10/2019, 12:14) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    He spend some money on keeping the ndp in power but it all came to zero
  • Hmm (28/10/2019, 12:34) Like (25) Dislike (2) Reply
    DOC just remember we love you... but greed is a bad thing be careful
  • Sunny (28/10/2019, 12:45) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just a little competition is what that is and apparently is the government ave them the go ahead to operate so I don't see them helping you on this.
  • facts (28/10/2019, 13:12) Like (0) Dislike (17) Reply
    we always against our own people!
  • Hmmmm (28/10/2019, 13:37) Like (6) Dislike (16) Reply
    Black people are really sad. They always seem to have no problem with a white person no matter how much money they have, but don't dare be black and local and want to earn your keep. When we defend ourselves and business, it's called greed, when anyone else does it, it's called opportunity. Then we sit around pretending to be patriotic and love each other. When we need sponsorship or other assistance it's the same local you trying to kill that you have to go cap in hand to. Keep it up!
  • Excuse Me (28/10/2019, 14:29) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Help you to do what?? Now you looking for Government to TELL people where to go?? Sorry you're losing but before opening that lab, you should have peeped the demand of it here. Not only is it expensive but person don't trust local doctors with their lives. So for you to tell people WHERE to go about their health and operations is very funny. Be satisfied with what you have. Part of investments is about losing. Shut it down if it is not bringing in enough revenue.
    • my friend (28/10/2019, 17:01) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
      My friend told me that to do a surgery there her co pay there was the Total bill at Peebles.... These People ripping off the Government big time... NDP put this NHI in place just to make these people there friends and families rich. We were doing good with our private insurance.... We had more options and better options.
  • Hard Streups (28/10/2019, 15:18) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Heskith been making mad dough off NHI indeed. With competition, we anticipate that your fees with either change (to our adavantage) or remain the same (and we will just keep going to your competitors)...PERIODT!
    • Great Investment (28/10/2019, 17:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I applaud Mr Vanterpol for the great modern medical investment he has made...Well needed but no use to the people can't help us if we can't afford to access the service.... Lord he can't expect to be a millionaire in a few years..
  • Me (28/10/2019, 16:51) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I traveled for medical attention. Paid hotel. Airfares Medical bills and its work out cheaper that going up there ... My co pay after insurance was less than a thousand dollars I'm talking all heart test plus angiogram and medication and one day in Hospital... He can do much better ..
  • NDP Scam (28/10/2019, 17:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    NHI was a NDP Scam a Mafair move to make their family n friends Rich.... Hope VIP fix this. Then again VIP is a government without courage.. NDP make things happen bad or good.
    • @ NDP scam (28/10/2019, 17:58) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      I must agree they lack courage and willing to do what they have to...too much worrying about public chatter and four of funny man guys blogging still
  • No Name (28/10/2019, 18:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did the hospital officially changed its name? Was it passed in the house? Was it gazetted?
  • Diaspora (28/10/2019, 21:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I’m not averse to supporting local businesses, for shopping local creates a multiplier in the economy. However, local businesses must be competitive delivering quality services and a reasonable cost. Customers makes the decision on where and from whom they procure medical services. Government cannot force them to favor one business over the other. Dr. Vanterpool needs to compete for customers. The talk around town by school chiren is that the services are to expensive. I have had family members and friends complain that the services were too “dear”. Doc needs to review his pricing structure. If he were to lower his prices and deliver high quality services, more customers would patronage his business. Customers are loyal to reasonable pricing and quality services, not status or one standing in the community. By the way, I could have missed it but in the last 8 years I didn’t hear doc shouting from the mountain top calling on government to do anything. The reason that didn’t happen is clear even to the sight challenge.
  • Norris Trunbull (28/10/2019, 22:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them belly full but we hungry. The need HAS become a Greed in the BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.
  • yesman (28/10/2019, 23:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don’t worry doc! NHI helping you from its heart!
  • Jordana (29/10/2019, 05:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am very thankful for the services Dr. Vanterpool hope provides but I agree with everyone here, your prices are just too high and I believe that this is because of the demand for those particular services but now that you have competition re: some of these services you Need to lower your prices man.. they are just too high.. persons only make so much money and the sad thing is is that if they can’t afford your service what do they do?:. Another personal issue I have with you is that at times you don’t always call patients back with pertinent results..for example I had to find out years later that someone in my family had a hereditary condition..if you are not careful doc one day someone will bring a lawsuit against you..
  • Interesting (29/10/2019, 10:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Heskith is doing a good job but the prices really are too high....He reached out to the politicians for help and got a response from Ronald Georges; he must be getting a cut of the profit from MS BVI.

    MS BVI is here to rape NHI and the BVI people. Don't be fooled. They have visiting doctors, ship persons abroad for any intervention and charge hundreds of dollars for a phone consultation.

    Know the FACTS!
  • Peaches (29/10/2019, 14:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NHI will soon shut down. Too much thiefery. (If there is such a word)


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