Hospital chiefs have responded to criticism of the recruitment process for a key management post.

The Royal Gazette was contacted by a source close to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital who raised concerns over the hiring procedure.

The man, who asked not to be named, questioned why the position of planning and capital development manager for Bermuda Hospitals Board was advertised in The Royal Gazette last Thursday when somebody from the UK already had the job.

But Joan Dillas-Wright, chief executive officer of the board, denied this was the case.

She said in a statement: "The Bermuda Hospitals Board has previously advertised and considered applicants for this post. No applications have been received from local candidates to date.

"We are currently holding a work permit for a highly qualified applicant from the UK."

She added that all hospital and Department of Immigration protocols were being followed.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed last Friday that qualified applicants who applied for the post were still being considered.

Whoever gets the job will be responsible for planning, managing and implementation of the board's capital building programme and post-project evaluation.

The advert states that seven years' project management experience is needed at middle to senior management levels, preferably within healthcare. The deadline for applications is today.