Bermuda will accept patients from Haiti, but officials are not sure when or in what capacity.

Last week the Premier's Press Secretary Arnold Minors issued a press release stating that the US Consul General had requested help with relocating Haitian patients. According to Mr. Minors, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, via its Chief of Staff, Dr. Donald Thomas, agreed to accept the patients.

When Mr. Minors was pressed for further details he told this paper that the US Consul General was off the Island until March so further discussions would have to wait.

However the US Consul General Grace Shelton clarified that said she was on the Island, that the US had requested help, but negotiations continued.

She said: "We appreciate Bermuda's willingness to provide medical services, aid workers and monetary contributions to Haiti.

"The US Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing with the Government of Haiti continuing medevac demands in order to determine how to best incorporate Bermuda's offer in ongoing relief efforts.

"We remain in close touch with the Government of Bermuda and staff at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital during the review.

"Along with the Government of Bermuda, physicians and medical staff from Bermuda who have already provided on-the-ground support in Haiti are leading by positive example, and we would like to thank the Premier and Bermuda for supporting this monumental humanitarian relief effort."