A huge collection of remarks from medics pointing to racism within King Edward VII Memorial Hospital has been published in a damning report by Ombudsman Arlene Brock.

Ms Brock laid out the quotes in 'A Tale Of Two Hospitals', a 111-page document about her probe into complaints by three black doctors about racism among medical professionals.

She said she wanted to give people the chance to see for themselves the comments which led her to conclude that race was a major divisive force at the hospital.

Tabling the report last Friday, Ms Brock pointed to a climate of rumour, innuendo and conjecture in which black and white doctors fear being targeted and counter-targeted.

"The hospital is the last bastion of racist institutions in Bermuda," said one person in the report. "This situation has made black doctors very nervous. They are wondering who the next victim is going to be.

"There's a notorious but untouchable group of doctors who make routine attacks on black doctors . . . who's next?

"The hospital has to first of all recognise that racism does exist. It's not a question of what degree it is, it does exist."

Another said: "I want to believe that there are a large number of people who do not want race to be an issue. Wonder if a lot of problems are as a result to small groups who want to perpetuate the fight because it is to their advantage.

"I get a sense that there are two camps — when you challenge us, we will use the race card."

"I hate rumour and innuendo," said another. "I hate hints that racism exists and that it has affected decisions at the hospital. Bermudians don't embrace other cultures easily."

Some comments highlighted differences between attitudes to blacks and whites.

"If you say there is racism in favour of the blacks, I think they will become more aggressive. If it's in favour of the whites, it will be 'I told you so'," said one.

"There's a clear difference between the two groups — how they're treated and how they work and what they feel they can say and what they feel they can't say," said another.

One person said: "In Bermuda, white Bermudians are top dog. The white man from any other place in the world is next, then comes the black Bermudian, then comes the black man from any other place in the world."

"Whites always looked for one thing — anything — to disparage a black doctor and then used that one thing to cast them in the worst light," said another.

"I was never so aware in my life that I was white until I came to Bermuda," said one.

"A white doctor who is not competent will have less of a problem," said another.

Ms Brock said the first example most interviewees pointed to as symptomatic of racial divisions is the fact there are two professional groups: the older Bermuda Medical Society and the newer Bermuda Medical Association.

"It's a ridiculous situation that we should have two societies — mainly because black members were aggrieved about how the BMS did their business," said one person.

Difficulties faced by expat physicians were also highlighted, with one interviewee saying: "People on work permits feel that their jobs would be in jeopardy if they speak up.

"It's been intimated to members of the Medical Staff Committee who are on work permits that they won't get their permits renewed if they make decisions that are against the political flavour of the day.

"You have two classes of doctors and nurses — those on work permits and those not — and there is a clear difference between the two groups, how they're treated and how they work and what they feel they can say and what they feel they can't say."

Another said: "They usually treat the people they bring in for the work permit — I'll just say it — like slaves. They want you to start a new practice, pay the expenses, then give them 40 percent of the income."

Pointing to the way culture impacts on individuals, one person said: "People who come in from abroad, at first they're friendly and open, then they learn the lay of the land, then they change."

Doctors also face prejudice regarding where they were trained, with one person saying: "I would never refer my patients to a US-trained doctor. I just wouldn't."

On the Ombudsman's investigation, one said: "You've opened up a can of worms," while another said: "I'm glad you're doing it and not me."

The document includes letters to the Ombudsman from Health Minister Michael Scott and Bermuda Hospitals Board CEO David Hill, both of whom welcomed the report.

Mr. Scott said he was confident the board would adopt Ms Brock's 15 recommendations, and that BHB had already put some methods in place.

Mr. Hill listed a number of recent staffing and structural alterations, stating: "We are cognisant that the people in the community and our own staff will be looking to us to make effective and lasting changes."

Ms Brock's job is independent from Government. Her report, said to have cost nearly $300,000, was completed with the support of a team of experts from the UK, US, Canada and Barbados.

They met with senior figures at the hospital, carried out in-depth interviews with 120 staff members, and trawled through more than 1,000 pages of documents on the hospital's policies and previous reports.

For the full report, visit www.ombudsman.bm from this afternoon.