A three-year pay agreement has been reached with hospital staff and executives which will also reward nurses who have provided bedside care for more than five years.

The settlement was struck between the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Bermuda Public Services Union and covers a wide-range of employees from executive level to clerical staff at both the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

In addition to the salary increases there is a new stepped reward system for nurses who have served at patient bedsides for five years or more. For those who have five years service it will by $1,100, increasing to $10,000 for nurses who have given ten or more years of bedside service.

This is designed to keep local compensation conditions for registered nurses in line with similar professions on the Island and also salaries paid to nurses internationally. The door has been left open for the salary levels in the third year of the agreement to be negotiated during the second year. Golinda Fox, of the BPSU, said: ?In view of the current consumer price index, we feel we have arrived at a reasonable settlement. We look forward to working with our partners in Bermuda?s only healthcare institution to provide efficient, effective and holistic delivery of services that meet the needs of the public.?

Acting CEO of the BHB, Venetta Symonds said: ?BPSU members play a vital role in the delivery of health care services to our clients. Making sure the needs of our staff are met translates to quality patient care.?

The BHB said in a statement the negotiation process had produced new employee benefits not included in the actual agreement, such as the start of ?reward for higher standards in professional practice.?