Ewart Brown that the Island's medical hospital is suffering "horrendous problems''.

In an advertisement in The Royal Gazette today Ms Manderson, who will be standing down as executive director of the board in two months, said: "Is the message that there are horrendous problems at our hospital and/or that there is an attempt to cover up horrendous problems...? "I am pleased to say that neither is the case.

"There are no horrendous problems at our hospital, only processes that need improving and updating...

"While it is true that our organisation has been through tremendous change and has experienced the emotional upheaval that usually accompanies change, it is also true that there have been tremendous improvements.'' On Monday The Royal Gazette printed extracts of a letter by Government Minister Dr. Brown to other physicians in which he referred to "the horrendous problems at our hospital''. When questioned about the statement he declined to elaborate.

But in today's advertisement Ms Manderson counters: "Articles such as the one noted above serve no purpose except to unfairly malign the reputation of the hospital and to decrease the public trust in our own very capable professionals.''