The Auditor General has launched a probe into the Bermuda Hospitals Board’s finances — and its chief financial officer has been relieved of her duties.A BHB spokeswoman said: “The Bermuda Hospitals Board confirms that it has been informed by the Auditor General that an official review will be undertaken of its finances by the Department of Internal Audit.“The 2011-12 financial reports will not be fully audited until the review is complete. As part of the Auditor General’s review process, BHB’s chief financial officer, Ms Delia Basden, has been put on administrative leave.”BHB chief executive officer and President Venetta Symonds said: “Although we expect this to be a challenging and thorough review, BHB welcomes the opportunity to ensure accountability and transparency in its financial reporting.“It will bring the same level of attention and due diligence to our finances, through the review by Department of Internal Audit, that is being paid to our organisational governance through the clinical and governance review. We are currently looking at our options with regards to ensuring continuity of financial leadership during this time. We look forward to the completion of the review and will cooperate fully as required.”The ongoing clinical and governance review, conducted by Canadian firm Howard Associates, is due to be delivered at the end of the month.Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews said in a statement that she recommended an immediate review of the Bermuda Hospitals Board as a result of concerns raised during the conduct of the financial audit.She said she recommended that the Chief Financial Officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board be placed on administrative leave pending the review, which will be conducted by the Department of Internal Audit. It will also cover the operations of Healthcare Partners Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Bermuda Hospitals Board.Mrs Jacobs Matthews said: “It is standard practice for the Office of the Auditor General to refer matters to the Department of Internal Audit for review. The Department of Internal Audit will assess the Bermuda Hospitals Board's operations to obtain reasonable assurance that its management control systems are adequate and operating effectively.”She added that the Department of Internal Audit's observations and recommendations will be reported to the Bermuda Hospitals Board's key stakeholders and to her. Matters arising from the review will be publicly reported by her.Invited to respond to the contents of yesterday’s press releases, Ms Basden, 48, of St George’s, said: “I have nothing to say.”Patients’ rights campaigners the Bermuda Healthcare Advocacy Group have been calling for a commission of inquiry into the BHB over a range of concerns.The group has drawn public attention to tales of disgruntled patients, high-profile resignations and terminations of jobs in recent months.In addition, the group has spoken out over the fact that the hospital’s financial statements for 2011-12 have yet to be tabled before Parliament and that hospital salaries and bonuses, which are funded by taxpayers, are not made public.The BHB threatened legal action against its spokesman, Mark Selley, last October after BHAG issued a strongly-worded statement criticising former hospital chief of staff Dr Donald Thomas, former chief executive officer David Hill and Ms Basden.Mr Selley said of yesterday’s news: “It’s about time, that’s all I can say. It’s time for accountability and transparency.”Last Friday, the Bermuda Industrial Union threatened industrial action by nurses’ aides at the hospital unless a dormant pay rise is acted upon.