Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) announced last week the launch of a comprehensive survey of its facilities. The survey will provide information for Bermuda?s future healthcare needs. BHB director George Melling said: ?King Edward VII Memorial Hospital was originally built in 1920 and comprehensively extended in 1965. Similarly, St. Brendan?s was built in 1875 and updated in the 1960s to provide healthcare services appropriate for that era.

?There have been many significant advances in modern medicine and while these bring great benefits to the community, they also bring immense challenges to hospital facilities. The buildings are aged and we need to create a healthcare environment that will accommodate the high level of services demanded by the community of Bermuda.? BHB chairman Jonathan Brewin added: ?A combination of factors, including Bermuda?s weather, have adversely impacted the hospital environment over the years.

?In addition, we have been forced to adapt our space so we can introduce new technology that the hospitals were not originally designed to support.?