An independent investigator is being sought to review hospital delays and overcrowding that have sparked public criticism of its Emergency Department’s performance, the Ministry of Health has announced.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board has confirmed that the “operational assessment” was now under way, and that “continued steps to ease pressures are in progress”, the ministry said.

A ministry spokeswoman added: “BHB has advised that the board has completed the internal steps required to advance the review and is moving forward with engaging an external party.

“As directed by the ministry, this process is being carried out with urgency and appropriate care.”

The BHB said the review was “expected to take place over the coming weeks”.

“Quality and accuracy must not be compromised, so it would be premature to set a completion date at this time.”

The board added that internal steps needed to progress the review had been completed, and that it was “moving forward with engaging an external party”.

The announcements came after Edward Schultz, a former Chief of Emergency Services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, demanded a commission of inquiry to review access to emergency care in the face of “critical overcrowding”, which he called a longstanding problem for the facility.

Dr Schultz subsequently welcomed news of an assessment, which was declared within days of him going public over what he described as serious threats to patient safety.

The BHB also stated that “immediate steps to ease pressures in the Emergency Department are under way” — including the opening of a dedicated overflow unit with capacity for ten beds on April 15, designed to relieve pressure on both the Emergency Department and acute wards, alongside “a number of other measures currently in progress”.

The board added: “Further information will be shared once the process reaches the appropriate stage for public updates.”

The ministry said it would “continue to support BHB as the assessment progresses”.