The new hospital could easily be built on the current site rather than by obliterating green space according to architectural business owner Stephen West. Outraged at Government?s plans to eat up a chunk of the Botanical Gardens he said the new building could be moved nearer Point Finger Road and cover land taken by the original hospital building ? recently abandoned by the Education Ministry.

The re-jig would also factor in space for further extensions. New wings could be added to the northwest and east of his plans while the design would create a car park five times bigger than the current one and a main entrance from Berry Hill Road.

?There is no more open space left in this Island. It?s been destroyed by capital ventures that are outrageous,? said Mr. West who has owned an architectural business for 35 years.

Last week Government said work on the new $500 million hospital will take 30 percent of the current Botanical Gardens site with the promise that once landscaping had been done on the old site the Botanical Gardens would have a net gain of four acres.

Work will start in two year?s time to be ready for 2013.

Opposition deputy leader Michael Dunkley reacted angrily to Premier Alex Scott?s statement that his Government would build a ?green hospital?, where patients may find a tree next to their bed.

Mr. Dunkley labelled the comments as ?ludicrous and disturbingly insincere?, adding: ?We are not sure why the Premier made the statement, but we are sure it makes a mockery of the sustainable development plan he trumpets as the key to Bermuda?s future.

?The United Bermuda Party supports the concept of sustainable development but we are increasingly concerned that Government?s carelessness and insincerity are bringing it dangerously close to being stillborn.

?The decision to build a new hospital in the Botanical Gardens ? the first major decision in this emerging era of sustainable development ? will cut the heart out of one of the most critical pockets of open space in Bermuda.?

Mr. Dunkley noted a pledge by the Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield to protect open space for ?generations to come? had been followed the next day by her transfer to another ministry.

And he noted the Sustainable Development Round Table ? the independent group invited by the Government to gather public views on the Sustainable Development Plan ? had said Government consultation on the hospital plan was insufficient.

Yesterday the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) announced three open houses would be held at King Edward VII Hospital to discuss the next steps.

People will have an opportunity to ask questions and also hear from healthcare designers CannonDesign about their experiences designing hospitals in other jurisdictions.

Deputy BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said: ?We recognise people want as many details as possible in the wake of this decision.

?We want to listen to concerns, share information and provide answers about how we expect to proceed. A detailed design is not available at this early stage and it will be something the community can be involved in.

?We want people to join us as we undertake detailed site surveys, look out how best we can harmonise our hospital into its unique setting and then return KEMH back to green space.

?It is an exciting prospect, as we can take the latest best practices on hospital design that have been proven to improve patient care, safety and clinical outcomes.?

The Community Open Hospital Meetings will be held in the First Floor Conference Room at KEMH:

Thursday September 14 at 6.30pm

Friday September 15 at 5.30pm

Saturday September 16 at 10.00 a.m.

Further community meetings will be held as BHB advances the design process.