Nurses, Police and social workers are to be trained in sex case forensics after Bermuda was left without a specialist for one month.

No medical evidence could be taken from victims in two recent sexual assaults while top pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham was off the Island on holiday.

Bermuda could be heading for crisis unless new experts are found by 2002, when Dr. Cunningham plans to retire two years ahead of schedule.

Now Department of Health officials have convened an emergency committee to set up a specialist training programme.

They will also start a "sexual assault evidence kit'' so doctors are not the only professionals able to take forensic evidence from victims.

The committee and training group is being coordinated by Dr. Terry-Lynn Emery, the hospital's Chief of Obstetrics.

Courses will be offered in sex case forensics and pathology.

Counselling and holistic training will also be offered to a range of professionals, including nurses, Police officers and social workers.

An angry Dr. Cunningham told The Royal Gazette : "I was off the Island for a month and nobody was willing to do examinations in my absence.

"That's not a minor situation. In the long-distant past, a couple of the Government-employed medical officers have subbed for me.

"But that apparently is no longer the case from the Government MO standpoint.

"The proven practice physicians are unable to do the examinations of the victims even if they are their own patients.

"I'm on record as offering to train any group of people who are willing to take this on and I'm already helping the task force of hospital physicians working on this.

"This is a situation that's been waiting to happen for some time and the potential for this is there any time I go away on holiday.'' The plan for a specialist training unit was immediately welcomed by senior lawyers in the Attorney General's Chambers last night.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus, poring over prosecution files in the two recent cases, said: "There is no system currently in place for evidence gathering.

Nurses and Police to get training "And presently the staff physicians at the hospital feel they are not sufficiently qualified to deal with sexual assault victims.

"This Bermuda-based committee is seeking to qualify medical practitioners in this area and implement a sexual assault evidence kit -- commonly used in other places -- for Bermuda.

"Many of the new medical practitioners will be nurses and it is extremely important for Bermuda to have qualified people in this field for both successful prosecutions and the proper treatment of complainants.'' Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann confirmed to The Royal Gazette that the committee was being given top priority.

He also revealed an overseas expert had already visited Bermuda to give advice on starting the training unit.

"A number of agencies are involved including the Police, the Health Ministry and the Hospitals Board,'' he said.

"They are working to set up a full, comprehensive programme which would provide training to a range of people.

"In future, it will not just be physicians who handle these cases, working closely with the Women's Resource Centre and other support facilities.

"The programme would include counselling and holistic care, both for the victim and the perpetrator.

"We really don't have to think of physicians as being the only providers of this assessment. Nurses can do it as well.

"And a consultant was here late last month to help us assess this situation.''