service review comes into effect.

Staff at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will have to wait until a "programme management'' policy is implemented before they will find out whether or not their positions are safe.

The Royal Gazette reported last month that a study by a Canadian consultant had recommended that 30 posts, including 13 assistant unit coordinators and two assistant nursing directors, should be eliminated.

On Friday, the Bermuda Sun reported that nursing staff had been told on Thursday that the position of nursing coordinator would also be eliminated and replaced by five programme managers, each responsible for an area of the hospital.

And sources said that unit coordinators -- who believed their jobs were safe under the restructuring -- were still in shock following a second meeting with hospital officials on Friday.

Hospital officials are still mapping out how the changes, following the review of operational services, will be introduced.

Hospital spokesman Kendaree Burgess-Fairn said it was normal for people to be nervous about change but she added that was why a series of meetings were taking place with the 800 staff.

"It is possible that people will lose their jobs,'' she said. "We need to map out how we get from the planning stage to the implementation stage, then we will better know if jobs are to be lost and which jobs.

"Jobs are not guaranteed for life. In this process there are a lot of opportunities for growth. People have to be responsible to themselves to make sure they are employable and employers have a responsibility for training people who are interested.'' She said meetings were taking place with staff to inform of the changes and to make sure they are better informed about the process.

"Nervousness comes about when people don't understand the process and don't know what is going to happen and why.'' The ultimate aim was to improve the quality of service to the patient, she said.

The report by Monahan and Associates said the maternity and paediatrics departments could be combined, and a task group could be established to make recomendations concerning the use of auxiliary staff.

Kendaree Burgess-Fairn said the process of change would be explained as it happened and staff would be kept informed at all stages.

Bermuda Public Service Association president Betty Christopher refused to comment on the situation as talks were ongoing.