The chairman of Bermuda Stroke and Family Support Association has hit out at the Bermuda Hospitals Board for failing to create a rehabilitation unit 12 years on.

Despite funding in place and a letter of approval four years ago, the Association says plans to convert the Perry Ward into a Neuro-Stroke Rehabilitation Step-down Unit have been "totally mishandled".

Chairman Mark Selley has now written to David Hill, BHB Chief Executive Officer, criticising the lack of action.

His letter states: "My concerns regard the complete lack of accountability or even a humble appreciation of the lengthy, ongoing efforts of the Bermuda Stroke Association, supported by thousands of our entire community, in the successful fundraising initiatives for the proposed and approved conversion of Perry Ward into a 26-bed, Neuro-Stroke Rehabilitation Step-down Unit. It has been totally mishandled by successive BHB Boards for the last 12 years and is unacceptable. The Bermuda community needs to have this unit in place."

Mr. Selley, who experienced a stroke 17 years ago, says two people are affected by strokes in Bermuda every week. Despite fundraising efforts dating back to 1996, he claims the public's generosity has been "stymied by continuous ungrateful, politically-aligned Boards".

"The public need to know what has become of their donations and my promises.

"As a member of the Bermuda Health Council, I feel both embarrassed and somewhat hypocritical in playing my part in bringing about accountability and cost controls in our fragmented healthcare system."

Yesterday however, the Bermuda Hospitals Board said an inpatient rehab unit was still in the pipeline.

A spokeswoman said: "The Bermuda Hospitals Board shares Mr. Selley's concern for providing comprehensive rehabilitative services to our community.

"We are aware and very grateful that there is money in trust for an inpatient neurological stroke unit that would provide rehabilitation services, and are working towards achieving that goal. Already, with the generous support of organisations such as the Bermuda Stroke Association, along with other non-profit groups and donors, we have established a local outpatient rehab unit in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

"The Day Hospital was opened in 2006 and cares for local patients who require a range of rehab services, from physical and psychological, to speech therapies.

"Our plans are to now address inpatient rehab, although there are a number of pieces we are addressing in order to proceed. Our previous Physician Leader for the Continuing Care Unit, Dr. David Harries, was instrumental in launching the Day Hospital and driving the rehabilitation programme.

Following Dr. Harries's return to the UK last year, we have been seeking a Physician Leader to take on this important role.

"In order to move forward with an inpatient rehab unit, we must also address the issue of having sufficient acute care beds.

"We are currently working with the Ministry of Health to resolve discharge planning for long-term patients and, next month, we will open an additional 16 beds on our Continuing Care Unit.

"This will increase the number of long-term patients we can care for, which is great news for these patients who will now benefit from a gentler, non-acute environment in which to receive care.

"It will also free up acute care beds which we can utilise for inpatient rehab patients. We look forward to developing this service, which we agree is needed for the community."