Health Minister Nelson Bascome has demanded hard facts and figures from Hospitals Board chairman Raymonde Dill after insiders claimed nursing numbers had been depleted by mass sickness and resignations.

Mr. Bascome admitted morale had been low at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital ever since the restructuring last year.

He said before his meeting with Mr. Dill: "The recent headlines have shown some very real concerns there.

"I will be asking the chairman to get the real statistics on sickness and people resigning.

"I want to see those figures to see if we have anything quantifiable. If we can get those facts and figures on people resigning and shortages, then we can see if there is a real problem and see what decisions need to be made.

"There are a number of gripes and we are working to improve the system right now.'' Mr. Bascome denied there was any crisis at the hospital, but said Mr. Dill's efforts to smooth the row had been necessary.

He said: "I would want him to follow in that vein.'' Mr. Bascome was speaking on the heels of Shadow Health Minister Kim Young's claim that Mr. Dill was empire building and making insulting remarks.

She told The Royal Gazette he had overstepped his role and was taking on the mantle of chief executive officer and sidelining the hospital's acting chief executive officer Lucille Parker.

Mr. Dill has been under fire from angry ex-pat nurses furious over his claim that they tended to quit with just a few week's notice once the summer was over.

Mrs. Young, a former nurse, said: "It appears the Hospitals Board chairman is overstepping his parameters and disrupting the efficient administration of the hospital which can affect the health care of our community.

"Raymonde Dill appears to be taking on the role of chief executive officer when his role as chairman is that he and the board set policy and the management of the hospital execute that policy without interference.

"The acting chief executive officer Mrs. Lucille Parker should be making statements as to staffing levels, management and administrative decisions without Mr. Dill trying to micro manage.

"Mrs. Lucille Parker, a Bermudian, has worked for five years with the previous chief executive officer and is perfectly capable of managing the hospital. "She would have all the correct information and perhaps avoid making false statements and insulting remarks about overseas nurses which ultimately undermine the excellent job that the hospital staff try to do on a daily basis.'' However, Mr. Bascome sprang to Mr. Dill's defence.

He said: "Kim Young gets a lot of cocktail circuit talk. Since Mr. Dill became chairman he has worked towards rectifying the problems.

"The chairman has duties. He's responsible for making sure the hospital is providing a service. I know Mrs. Parker is bogged down so he is taking charge.'' Earlier in the week insiders had claimed that the Emergency Department had occasionally operated with too few nurses and that stressed nurses throughout the hospital were quitting in droves while morale was plummeting.

Mrs. Young said: "We have only one general hospital to provide health care to our 60,000 residents plus the visitor population and it's the responsibility of the Minister to ensure the medical welfare of our people by efficient administration at KEMH.'' Mrs. Young added that the Government should have kept faith with its Bermudianisation policy by appointing one of the two acting chief executive officers rather than waiting to bring in a foreigner for the top job. Mrs. Parker is the acting chief executive officer at KEMH while Joan Dillas-Wright performs the same role at St. Brendan's.

But Mr. Bascome said both women had stated that they did not want the top job.

He said: "They recognise they are not ready for that role.'' Mrs. Young urged Mr. Bascome to set the record straight on the state of the hospital.

She said: "There is a lot of talk in the community about the level of health care in the hospital and as long as confusion is allowed to remain in the minds of the community, the perception that the hospital is deteriorating will continue.

"Nurses say the hospital is understaffed and they are overworked and even a Government Minister, Dr. Ewart Brown, stated there are horrendous problems internally. The Minister needs to clarify these issues.''