CONCERNS have been raised among some hospital staff over a meeting several weeks ago between a delegation from the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) and representatives of American health care consultants Kurron.

Kurron carried out a review of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's Hospital earlier this year on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

Its report - which will make recommendations on the future of the hospitals - will be completed by the end of the month.

But this newspaper was told that questions are being raised as to why the BIU was invited to meet Kurron in New York, while the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) - which represents around three quarters of hospital staff - was not.

BIU president Derrick Burgess, who attended the meeting, declined to shed any light on what was discussed.

"I don't discuss details of private meetings with the Press," he said. "That is for our members to know."

According to one hospital source, it did not go down well with some KEMH staff.

"They went up to New York in April and that caused quite a stink at the hospital," said the source. "Why should they (the BIU) be called when a lot of the issues pending were issues relating to BPSU members?"

BPSU leader Ed Ball was reluctant to discuss the issue, when pressed on it yesterday.

"Certainly, it is my understanding that an invitation was given to the BIU, but I am not privy to that information," said Mr. Ball, who said that around 900 of the 1,200 hospital staff were BPSU members.

He said that Kurron had interviewed hospital staff, regardless of their union and it was improtant that the workers should have their say on the review and any future policy based on it.

"BPSU members are waiting with baited breath to se what Kurron have recommended. We will be watching with great interest."

When asked about the BIU meeting with Kurron, Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) chairman Jonathan Brewin said yesterday: "I have heard mention of that, but I don't know anything for sure."

He added that details of the Kurron report should not be long coming.

"We are awaiting a formal presentation on the final report which will be before the end of the month," said Mr. Brewin.

"After it is submitted to the Health Minister (Nelson Bascome), it will be considered by the Ministry and the Board."

While Kurron was working on its review, some staff were worried about the possibility of redundancies. The Mid-Ocean News revealed in March that Kurron had a reputation for turning round the financial fortunes of struggling hospitals in the US, but slashing jobs and services in the process.

One former administrator of the New York-based Episcopal Health Services (EHS), Steve Villano, who resigned as vice-president after Kurron was brought in as consultants there, told this newspaper that Kurron boss Corbett Price "is to health care what Osama bin Laden is to tranquillity".

Mr. Price, who is a friend of Transport Minister and working physician Dr. Ewart Brown, announced 258 job cuts within a month of being brought in at EHS.