Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness yesterday outlined the hospital's policy for the removal of dead people from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital wards.

And he gave an update on the status of emergency medical technicians. He was responding to Opposition questions tabled in the House of Assembly last week.

Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome wanted to know why hospital staff had gone against policy and left a dead patient in a hospital ward for more than two hours.

Mr. Edness said an "error in judgment'' had been made in an attempt to accommodate the wishes of the person's family.

He added: "Under current policy, nursing staff provide an opportunity for family members to view the deceased on the ward. The policy does not specify the length of time the individual can be left in a public or semi-private room. However, in practice, if family members are not available to view the deceased within a maximum of two hours, the body is removed to a private room or the morgue.

The board would now ensure a deceased individual was not left on a ward for longer than two hours.

With regards to emergency medical technicians, Mr. Bascome said they had had a "longstanding demand for professional certification from the Ministry'' to afford them better protection.

Mr. Edness pointed out they were currently registered with the Chief Medical Officer's office.

The registration was based on certification of training provided by the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

"Responsibility for the activities of emergency medical technicians rests with their employer -- the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Police, or Fire Service,'' the Minister said.

In answer to a supplementary question, he said Swan Brothers now had the contract to supply liquid oxygen and other medical gases to the hospital.

Bermuda Industrial Gases' contract expired on June 1 and the job went out to tender. Swan Bros. was the lowest bidder.

Mr. Edness added conversion to the new supplier was achieved without disruption to patient care.