originally thought after health chiefs announced that a management restructuring programme is well under way.

About 40 nursing jobs were expected to be axed by the end of the year once six new programme managers had been appointed at the hospital.

But a spokeswoman for the hospital has now confirmed that the managerial vacancies could be filled by the beginning of next month -- bringing the date of the redundancies forward.

"We will be interviewing for the vacancies next week and hope to have selected candidates by the beginning of next month,'' the spokeswoman said.

The restructure is being implemented in a bid to slash spiralling health costs. The number of redundancies will be decided by the programme managers once they have been appointed.

Although the reorganisation will create about 30 new posts, up to 40 jobs will be lost. Some of the redundancies could come through retirement.

FIRE CREWS ALERTED OVER PLANE DRAMA FIR Fire crews alerted over plane drama Firefighters raced to a weekend aircraft drama at the Airport.

A crew from the Bermuda Fire Service's Clearwater Station backed up Airport fire and rescue personnel after the incoming American Airlines flight reported problems with wing flaps.

A spokesman at the Airport said last night the plane was forced to make three approaches before deciding to land.

But he added the aircraft touched down "without incident'' The spokesman said ground crews at the Airport examined the flaps and gave them the all-clear -- a decision ratified by American Airlines Oklahoma-based maintenance headquarters.

PLEA FOR NURSE TO AID DEATH CRASH PROBE OBT AC Plea for nurse to aid death crash probe Police are appealing for a nurse who helped at the scene of a fatal road accident to come forward.

Officers investigating the accident in which Ewan Sampson, 17, died, want to speak to a female nurse who was comforting the victim at the scene of crash.

Sampson memorial fund: Page 7 In addition they would like to speak to a woman who they believe Ewan was going to help with a computer at the time.

The accident, which happened on Middle Road in Southampton, occurred on April 21 at 5pm.

Mr. Sampson, of Sun Valley Road, died after losing control of his cycle and colliding with a truck as he emerged from the Southampton Shell Station.

A police spokesman said: "A number of witnesses have come forward and have been interviewed, but it is believed that Ewan was on his way to a residence of a woman in the West End, where he had arranged to work on her computer.

"The investigator would like to speak to this woman and the nurse.''