Preparing King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for a mammoth rebuilding project and finding solutions to the challenge of attracting and retaining qualified medical staff in the face of recruitment competition around the world are just two of the tasks facing the new Bermuda Hospitals Board CEO.

After an extensive search for a successor to Joan Dillas-Wright, which attracted around 270 applicants, the new BHB chief is David Hill.

He has been chosen to lead the BHB for the next five years on the strength of his past experience and performance that includes heading one of England?s best-performing acute healthcare trusts since 1999.

Mr. Hill currently heads a healthcare trust with a staff of 3,000 and an annual turnover of more than $200 million. Providing he receives immigration clearance he is expected to assume full responsibility for KEMH and the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute at the end of this year, which means he will be involved in the first phases of the planned redevelopment of the hospitals.

A much anticipated announcement about the hospital rebuilding plans is expected to be made public within the next month. Mr. Hill comes direct from the James Paget Healthcare Trust in Norfolk, England, which last year was given a maximum three-star rating by the UK Healthcare Commission for its achievements in providing care to patients and overall hospital management. Current acting CEO, Bermudian Venetta Symonds, has been appointed as deputy with the view to taking over as CEO when Mr. Hill?s five-year contract expires.

Announcing the appointment of Mr. Hill, BHB chairman Anthony Richardson said: ?Many of the issues we face in Bermuda are similar to those faced by healthcare leaders around the world ? the global shortage of healthcare workers, the growing expense of technology and the need to constantly put the care of our patients at the heart of what we do each day.

?Mr. Hill brings extensive experience in managing these issues and will bring great insight as we seek to improve healthcare services in Bermuda.? And of the new deputy CEO Mrs. Symonds, he said: ?We are fortunate to have such a high calibre Bermudian to prepare for future leadership.

?Mrs. Symonds has already displayed her leadership potential as acting CEO and we are pleased that healthcare in Bermuda will be in strong and well-prepared hands today and for many years to come.?

Health Minister Patrice Minors said: ?These senior appointments are essential in my vision for affordable and accessible health care for Bermuda. Over the next several years I?m confident that the BHB will be in strong and capable hands.?

She said she was pleased that Mrs. Symonds, as a Bermudian, had been appointed to a ?meaningful? developmental role that would provide her the opportunity to acquire the skills and experience to become a future CEO.

Mr. Hill said: ?I have toured the hospitals, everyone has been very friendly and I have been very impressed by the commitment and professionalism of staff and volunteers I have met.

?There are challenges such as the global shortage of healthcare workers.

?These are issues I do have experience in tackling.?

Mrs. Symonds said: ?I?ve been acting CEO for five months and have gained an insight into the role of the CEO officer.

?I?ve been very happy to assist the BHB in this position and I?m looking forward to building on that. This is a great opportunity and I?m pleased to have been appointed to the position of deputy CEO.?

Asked for an update on plans to redevelop the hospital and what involvement Mr. Hill would have, Mrs. Minors said: ?An announcement about the location of the new hospital will be made within the next month.

?I do see Mr. Hill being part of the whole process, he has the background having worked on capital projects in the UK.?

Mr. Hill said it was important for such projects to be delivered on time and on budget.

Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert, asked if he was concerned a Bermudian had not been chosen for the top role, said: ?Five or seven years ago they identified that they were going to have a Bermudian in place and we do not have one in place yet.

?The fact is they had over 270 people apply for the position and they have chosen Mr. Hill as the new person.

?They say Mrs. Symonds will in five years be the next CEO ? it is something positive to look forward to.?