A new Chairman of a health services' independent watchdog has been announced — one year before the previous was expected to finish.

Dr. Michael Bradshaw has been chairman of the Bermuda Health Council since its creation in 2005 when he was appointed for a three-year period to finish on December 31, 2008.

However, in the most recent government boards published on Friday, he was replaced with the Progressive Labour Party's Secretary General and PLP Devonshire South Central candidate Linda Merritt, who has served on the board since December 19, 2005.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome said he would not comment on the changes until a news conference due to take place this afternoon.

When this paper spoke with Mr. Bradshaw about his replacement on the board, he said he was disappointed not to be part of the team, but he would wait to hear what the Minister had to say.

He said: "I do serve at the Minister's pleasure. He should be able to explain to the public first what he decided.

"The Minister made changes and when people hear why they were made they might think it was better. I am not the only person who can do that position and there may be persons who are better."

The Bermuda Health Council was developed through the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 and the first members were announced on December 19, 2005.

There have been no changes in the membership since its creation because every member, except for the chair and deputy chair who were appointed for three years, was given a two-year term ending December 31, 2007.

Only three of the original members remain with Ms. Merritt becoming the Chairman, Lucille Parker and Mark Selley.

Mrs. Parker has been the Deputy Chairman since 2005, however, the most recent Boards do not indicate if she remains in that seat.

In a change from previous announcements when individual members were named, this year members were listed as: Representative — Dental Board, Representative — Hospital Insurance Advisory Board, Representative — Bermuda Medical Society, Representative — Allied Health Professions, Representative — Optometrists, Representative — Pharmacists, and Representative — Bermuda Hospitals Board.

The other members remain the same with the financial secretary, the Health Ministry Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer.

Questions were raised about the future of the BHC in August, according to notes by former Health Minister Michael Scott on a secret meeting of the "Saturday Group" — including Mr. Scott, Premier Ewart Brown and Bermuda Hospitals Board members.

In what Mr. Scott called his personal, but which were typed up and set out in the form of minutes, the former Minister wrote: "The Chairman of BHB sounds warning that everything BHB does at the Hospital must be funneled through the Health Council.

"Even though the Minister decides. CEO gives example of the Request for Oncologist;

"Question can the Health Council be abandoned "Next Question do we manage HeCo?

"Premier: leave to Minister to work on leadership of the HeCo and PS of Health to work on changes to legislation to repitch the statutory emphasis and authority of HeCo."

The Bermuda Hospitals Board insists Mr. Scott's notes are grossly inaccurate, not an official record of the meeting and should be considered a reflection of the Minister's private notes and personal thoughts.