SLBMC Expands Emergency Care Team with New Physician

Published
SLBMC Expands Emergency Care Team with New Physician
Dr. Ayanna Whittington (photo by Sir Lester Bird Medical Center)

The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has strengthened its Emergency Department with the appointment of Dr. Ayanna Whittington, an Emergency Medicine Physician who officially joined the hospital’s team this week.

Dr. Whittington, a Barbadian native and graduate of the University of the West Indies, brings extensive training and experience to the role. She expressed her enthusiasm about joining SLBMC, saying, “I am ecstatic to join the Emergency Medical team at the SLBMC. It is my pleasure to bring my years of experience to the people of Antigua and Barbuda with the aim to continually improve the care that this institution offers.”

Her recruitment comes as part of the hospital’s wider strategy to strengthen the areas where demand is greatest. The Emergency Department has been one of the most challenging units for both staff and patients, and SLBMC leaders say this move is another step toward transforming the patient experience.

Marketing and Communications Manager Salma Crump emphasized the importance of the new addition, noting that both Dr. Whittington and Dr. Christopher Sulowski represent the hospital’s push for continuous improvement. “We know the challenges in healthcare are real — we’ve faced many and continue to face them — but our commitment to strengthening the care and support we provide to patients and families remains just as strong,” she said. “Their expertise and dedication will help us keep building the kind of care our community deserves.”

With Dr. Whittington now on board, SLBMC says it is better positioned to deliver responsive, high-quality emergency services for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

This story was first published by Antigua News on September 5, 2025: antigua.news/2025/09/05/slbmc-expands-emergency-care-team-with-new-physician. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

Step 1

Add Antigua.news to your Home Screen

✕ antigua.news ⋯ Open in Safari Copy link Share…

First, open this page in Safari

You are reading inside another app (Instagram, Facebook…). Tap ⋯ at the top right and choose Open in Safari (or Open in browser).

No such option? Copy the link, open Safari and paste it in the address bar.

⚙️ Settings General › Software Update

Update your iPhone first

Alerts need iOS 16.4 or newer. Open Settings → General → Software Update and install the update. You can still add the icon now: tap Next.

‹ antigua.news ⋯

Tap the ⋯ button

It is at the bottom right of Safari, next to the address bar. Don't see the bar? Scroll up a little.

Share Add Bookmark New Tab Find on Page

Tap Share

It is the first option of the menu, with a square-and-arrow icon.

antigua.news ‹ › ▢ ⧉

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow pointing up, in the middle of the bar at the bottom (on iPad: at the top right).

antigua.news

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow, at the right of the address bar at the top. (Firefox: tap ☰ at the bottom, then Share.)

Copy Add to Reading List Add to Home Screen

Tap Add to Home Screen

Scroll down the list to find it (icon: a square with a +). Not there? Tap Edit Actions or View More at the bottom.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news Open as Web App

Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add

The switch must be green — without it, alerts can't work. Then tap Add at the top right.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news An icon will be added to your Home Screen so you can quickly access this website.

Tap Add

At the top right. If you see an Open as Web App switch, leave it on (green).

Antigua.news

Close the browser and open Antigua.news from its new icon

Go to your Home Screen: the Antigua.news icon is there now (swipe left if you don't see it). Alerts only work when you open us from this icon.

“Antigua.news” Would Like to Send You Notifications Notifications may include alerts, sounds and icon badges. Don’t Allow Allow

Tap 🔔 Turn on alerts, then Allow

In the app you will see a red box asking to turn on alerts: choose your sections, tap the button, then tap Allow. That's it — breaking news will reach you even with the phone locked.

Shermain Bique-Charles

About the author

Shermain Bique-Charles is an accomplished journalist with over 24 years of dynamic experience in the industry. Renowned for her exceptional storytelling and investigative skills, she has garnered numerous awards that highlight her commitment to journalistic integrity and excellence. Her work not only informs but also inspires, making her a respected voice in the field.

Read our editorial standards and corrections policy. Spotted an error? Contact the newsroom.

Comments (6)

  • Stefan September 5, 2025, 7:30 AM

    Welcome Dr. Whittington! We really need more dedicated specialists in Antigua and Barbuda.
    Reply
  • Genique September 5, 2025, 7:45 AM

    Two new emergency doctors in just weeks, seems like complains and news articles makes a difference.
    Reply
    • Anonymous September 5, 2025, 8:39 AM

      So you strongly believe news articles and complain cause all this to happen so you never think it has been in the pipeline and just come to Furition. So days of complin cause a Doctor to pack up their profession in their country and rush to fix a problem in another man’s country Just so just like that, quick fast and in a hurry? Darlene. This has been in the pipeline and just being manifested.
      Reply
  • Juju Bee September 5, 2025, 7:58 AM

    The strengthening everything except customer service
    Reply
  • Anonymous September 5, 2025, 9:12 AM

    For those that are speaking about customer service, get a job there and teach people how to give good customer service or employ as a nurse or a doctor then offer that service and stop complaining simple.You can fix the problem.Why not fix it….. From outside looking in, it’s way different from inside looking out. You people want to go to the hospital, disrespect, the medical team behave any and any how and they are not human beings. They are sponge to absorb all that you are given and they are not supposed to feel anyway, they don’t have feelings, wrong information went out and the public run with it and no one seek to find out what had happened, and there was no truth to what went on in the news. Everybody understanding of a good communication is different and apparently the public doesn’t matter how professional you be to an individual who lack understanding and sound reasoning. It will never come off to be good for them. But yet still the public run with it and lambase the hospital and its hard working team you people are so ungrateful, insensitive and unappreciated. One medical personnel has 18- 20 patients to deal with +each patients have 18-20 family members to deal with within an 8-hour period thats thats 36-40 personalities+ supervisor/ management, orderlies, sanitation team when they go home they have their own family’s issues to deal with , their own personal lives and that same one individual has to do this 24hrs everyday for 5 consecutive days have you finger pointers and bad mouthing ungrateful people has considered these things? NO YOU HAVEN’T!! Medical personnel are not robots they are humans beings with feelings and families just as everyone else and deserves the utmost respect as any other profession…..for those of you who have ALWAYS been negative and judgment are you perfect at your place of work? NO YOU ARE NOT !! from time to times someone will complain about you Whether it’s true or false. So don’t be or pretend as if everyone else in Antigua and Barbuda are perfect but the medical team at msjmc are imperfect. You speak down on the medical team at the hospital but as soon as you your finger nail hurt the first place you go is the same people that you lambasted and speak down on you’re going to for help, are you not wicked? And guess what?I don’t care who come after me?The truth is just the truth. We all need to stop it and do better…. And FYI I am not a nurse and neither do I work there
    Reply
  • Informed citizen September 5, 2025, 6:07 PM

    Expanding the emergency team is important, especially with rising health emergencies, but the public will judge results, not announcements.
    Reply

Submit a comment

More from Antigua and Barbuda

View section