More than 100 patients taking up hospital beds even though they don't need acute care will have to be moved elsewhere before King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is reconstructed.

Experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine International highlighted the problem while carrying out a $200,000 review ahead of the pending major rebuilding programme, Health Minister Michael Scott revealed yesterday.

Mr. Scott said he was confident the patients — mainly elderly people whose families are unable to look after them — could be found places in the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility or Lefroy House nursing home, which are both being extended. It is hoped some will be able to return to their families.

"There are 104 non-acute patients," Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette. "We have to look for strategies to rehouse these patients. If we can reduce the number of non-acute beds, this keeps the costs down.

"We will relocate them in existing Government facilities, and look at models of how we can manage the situation in the future."

Earlier, Mr. Scott told a press conference Johns Hopkins had advised the number of non-acute patients would help determine the size and cost of the new hospital.

"They have looked at the implications of having non-acute care, such as continuing care for the elderly, provided on the same site," said Mr. Scott.

"It requires a whole solution of its own, to ensure that our seniors have adequate provision."

The new hospital, which is expected to be up and running by 2012, will involve several phases of reconstruction at the existing building.

The scheme faced controversy last year, when Government announced the new building would go on the Botanical Gardens site.

That decision was overturned following a public outcry, with officials opting to rehouse it at the hospital's own 14-acre site, which includes a green area surrounding the existing building.

The Johns Hopkins review follows the Estate Master Plan, a long-term strategic plan for the hospital developed overseas consultants completed two years ago.

Opposition politicians have complained too much time and money has been spent on reviews, and not enough on actual work as the KEMH approaches the end of its natural life.

Yesterday, Mr. Scott acknowledged the planning phase was a "long process" but added: "We are progressing well and will ensure that we tread on a solid, evidence-based path."

The Minister gave further information about urgent care centres being set up at each end of the Island to relieve pressure on the hospital's emergency department and provide a more convenient service for residents.

He said one would be based near Southside Police station and the other by the fire service's Port Royal station in Southampton.

They will be new buildings on Government land, and construction work will begin "as soon as possible".

The centres — which Premier Ewart Brown has talked about since his vision statement in his Progressive Labour Party leadership campaign last year — will have a nurse, laboratory, diagnostic services and an ambulance.

Mr. Scott said: "They will provide a close, ambulatory healthcare service to the people at either end of the Island who suffer minor injuries, such as bumps or cuts, saving them a longer journey to a central emergency department at the hospital.

"Our centralised emergency department will still care for people in the more central parishes and also anyone who is critically injured or transported by ambulance."

BHB CEO David Hill said the hospital has a new chief operating officer, Robert Zinnen, who has been overseeing the opening of a new surgical suite.

Bermuda Hospitals Board deputy chairman Wendell Hollis praised the efforts of new chief of staff Donald Thomas III who, Mr. Hollis said, has helped restructure the hospital's by-laws to ensure "transparency and fairness".