Last week's diversion to Bermuda of a crippled jetliner carrying 111 passengers could have put the Island's emergency readiness to a serious test.

The United Airlines 767 landed safely early on Wednesday morning. A King Edward VII Memorial Hospital ambulance that was standing by along with Bermuda Fire Service trucks and Government pilots boats did not have to be used.

But Dr. Edward Schultz, director of emergency services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said the Paget facility prepares for the type of disaster Flight 987 could have become.

"We would be prepared as best we can be under those circumstances,'' Dr.

Schultz told The Royal Gazette yesterday. "Quite frankly, all we can do is prepare for the worst.

"There is always the possibility that a disaster may produce a number of victims that is greater than your institution can easily handle,'' Dr. Schultz said.

But, "This hospital is far better-equipped to deal with this kind of problem than many, if not most hospitals of comparable size,'' he said. "We do have additional resources because of our isolated geographical position.'' An air crash is the most likely disaster Bermuda will face, he said. Not only is it located on major air routes, but aircraft are frequently diverted to the Island when experiencing mechanical problems or unable to approach the eastern seaboard of the United States due to weather.

While there has not been a crash near Bermuda in more than 30 years, the hospital has been involved in two aircraft emergencies in the last five years.

In one, numerous people suffered fractures after an aircraft suddenly lost altitude, Dr. Schultz said. The hospital treated 36 patients. In the other incident, eight people were treated for respiratory complaints after a dentist smuggled a substance onto the plane which vaporised on board.

In last week's incident, the United Airlines flight was bound for Brazil from New York when one of its two engines failed. The pilot had to fly at a low altitude and dump some of his fuel, to make the plane lighter, to reach Bermuda.

In the event of a plane crash, two emergency plans would come into effect, Dr.

Schultz said.

Hospital is prepared From Page 1 The Airport emergency plan, which has input from Police, the Bermuda Fire Service, the hospital, the Airport contractor, Harbour Radio, and others, has recently been revised in light of the departure of the US Navy, Dr. Schultz said.

"A number of exercises are scheduled over the next few months to check that plan out and make sure it's operating smoothly.'' The hospital also has its disaster plan. When implemented, all doctors, nurses, and other staff are called in, elective surgery is cancelled, and patients who are well enough are sent home.

"The hospital basically ceases to function, to a large extent, outside of dealing with the disaster,'' Dr. Schultz said.

The hospital disaster committee, which meets periodically to revise and update its plan and schedule disaster drills, is to discuss the United Airlines incident at a meeting today.

The departure of the Navy will mean the loss of two to three Navy flight surgeons who were well-trained in external triage, Dr. Schultz said. The Base clinic will also be lost, as will two Base ambulances with emergency medical technicians.

Despite the loss of transportation, the hospital's ability to take patients to the operating theatre would still be greater than its operating room capability of 4.5 rooms, he said. "The hospital is in the process of planning a new operating theatre which will give us more operating rooms.''