hospital workers.

The settlement is for Bermuda Public Services Association staff at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's.

They will get pay increases of 2.75 percent in the first year, and 2.25 percent in the second.

Those receiving it include, among others, nurses, X-ray technicians, administrative and maintenance staff and the radiology department.

Mr. Hume Martin, executive director of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said the deal would run from October, 1993 to October, 1995.

"We have been in negotiation for months, but an agreement was reached without a third party.'' The deal comes on the heels of one for 388 Bermuda Industrial Union workers at King Edward VII.

They are receiving hikes of 3.5 percent in the first year, and 2.5 percent in the second.

Meanwhile, it was announced that 12 beds in the Perry Ward at King Edward VII would be reopened.

The beds were closed in January because of little demand. Four beds were now being used as a "short stay unit for surgical patients''.

The other eight would reopen next month as an "intermediate care unit''. This was for patients no longer needing "acute care'' and waiting to be moved to rest homes or their own homes.

"Residents selected for the intermediate care unit will spend most of their time during the day participating in activities and programmes on the extended care unit.''