There is no possibility of a conflict of interest harming Bermuda despite having the same person as CEO of the newly created regulatory Bermuda Health Council and chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, it is claimed.

That is according to Michael Bradshaw chairman of the Health Council, who said the quality of membership of the Council will preclude any pressure being brought to bear on its deliberations and decisions.

Added to this, he said, is its stated aim of being a truly open and transparent body set up to regulate and improve health-related services on the Island, including aspects of how the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are run.

The appointment of BHB chairman Anthony Richardson to the chief executive role with the Health Council, which will cast its eye over the running of the hospitals, has brought concern that there will be a conflict of interest.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson said last week it was a case of ?the fox guarding the chickens?.

But in a reply Mr. Bradshaw said Mrs. Jackson was not fully informed and he would be happy to sit down with her to explain the workings of the Health Council and the checks in place to ensure its integrity is not compromised by any conflict of interest that may arise as a result of Mr. Richardson?s dual roles.

?It is the Bermuda Health Council which has the responsibility and Mr. Richardson is a functionary, as is every inspector or other person who is employed by the Council at whatever level. The possibility of conflict of interest cannot become a reality because we have systems and individuals in place to address that,? said Mr. Bradshaw.

?Also, Mr. Richardson is an honourable man. The Bermuda Health Council is composed of honourable persons and throughout the interacting systems we have more honourable people using an honourable and tested process.

?Mr. Richardson will not be the full-time leader of the BHB as he was previously but will be allowed to give some shared time on a short-term basis.?

He went on: ?The CEO of the Bermuda Health Council will be sufficiently occupied with the affairs and responsibilities for which he has been hired that he will only be available to deal with such matters and projects of the BHB as would be absolutely necessary.

?We are quite sure the BHB will want full-time leadership as soon as that is possible. Meanwhile, in fulfilment of its objective to bring and lead collaboration on as broad and meaningful a front as possible, the Bermuda Health Council wishes to extend its assistance by a temporary loan of some of the time and efforts of Mr. Richardson.?

Health Minister Patrice Minors has also indicated that Mr. Richardson will make himself absent from decisions where there is a perceived conflict of interest and that in the long term a new chairman of the BHB would be sought.

Mr. Bradshaw said the Health Council had agreed to the current transition period ?in the interests of the general good, rather than bring everything to a halt and the loss of momentum that would entail.?

He added: ?Even in this transition stage he will not be in a position to censure anything because it?s the Council that directs the strategic decisions.

And Mr. Bradshaw said even as CEO of the Health Council, Mr. Anderson would not be able to override the decisions of the Council members.

?I?m chair of the Council and I will not be intimidated nor would any of the other members, it is not even an issue.?

He said the Health Council recognised it ?must re-educate and inform the many stakeholders in Bermuda so as to change the mindset under which we have previously functioned.?

He explained: ?Bermuda enjoys a ?good? system that is becoming costly and cumbersome and client unresponsive. The Bermuda Health Council will be undertaking a number of forums to meet with groups of stakeholders ?to listen?.?