The Progressive Labour Party is championing a health watchdog as a history-making step forward for Bermuda — weeks after health bosses including the Premier and Health Minister apparently discussed abandoning it at a secret meeting.

Bermuda Health Council was hailed in the party's health progress report under the headline: "Moving Bermuda Forward. The PLP and the Bermuda Health Council ... Making History Together."

It stated the BHC was established to regulate, coordinate and enhance health services on the Island by emphasising quality management, accessibility, cost effectiveness, integration and collaboration.

Last month, The Royal Gazette revealed how doubts were cast over BHC's future at a secret meeting of the "Saturday Group" which involved Premier Ewart Brown, Health Minister Michael Scott and Bermuda Hospitals Board members.

Mr. Scott's notes on the August 18 meeting, leaked to this newspaper, state: "The Chairman of BHB sounds warning that everything BHB does at the Hospital must be funnelled through the Health Council.

"Even though the Minister decides. CEO gives example of the Request for Oncologist;

"Question: can the Health Council be abandoned?

"Next Question do we manage HeCo?

"Premier: leave to Minister to work on leadership of the HeCo and PS of Health to work on changes to legislation to repitch the statutory emphasis and authority of HeCo."

Mr. Scott declined to comment when asked why the Saturday Group apparently discussed abandoning BHC yet the PLP was promoting it as a history-making step forward.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson said: "At a meeting attended by the Premier, Michael Scott, Bermuda Hospitals Board members and others, it was questioned whether the Health Council could be abandoned. This statement has not been denied.

"How can we now believe that they honestly support and champion this as a history-making step forward?"

Michael Bradshaw, chairman of BHC since its formation in January 2006, said Mr. Scott's notes may not be a true reflection of what was said at the meeting. He said even if the notes were accurate, he was not worried because nobody had raised the issue with his group.

"If there were going to be any such discussion, you would expect them to take place first of all with the Health Council," said Mr. Bradshaw.

According to Mr. Scott's notes, the Saturday Group said a recent healthcare report by Johns Hopkins Medicine International needed to be written for the public because it is potentially so embarrassing for Government.

The Ministry of Health has repeatedly turned down our requests to see the review — which cost taxpayers $200,000 — pointing to a Police investigation into Mr. Scott's allegation that documents "may have been stolen" from his office.

Challenged again this week, Mr. Scott said: "My response remains unchanged from my last as it relates to the content of those notes.

"They remain the subject of a Police investigation and accordingly I have no response to your questions at this time."

We once again pointed out that detectives who questioned Royal Gazette journalists had said their probe surrounded Mr. Scott's notes on the August 18 meeting; and that the report The Royal Gazette requested — by Johns Hopkins — is not at the centre of any investigation.

Permanent Secretary for Health Warren Jones, responding on behalf of Mr. Scott, said: "You already have that answer. No change."

Mr. Scott has previously denied the suggestion that he does not want to release the report because of the approaching General Election.

Mrs. Jackson said last night: "It's obviously been shredded and one can only guess that the public will never know what these prestigious consultants could have said about King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to have this report shrouded in secrecy. Obviously, healthcare in Bermuda is in chaos."

The Premier, who opened the Saturday Group meeting and to whom Mr. Scott attributes numerous remarks, has described himself as "an observer" and left all comment to Mr. Scott and BHB.

BHB says the notes are grossly inaccurate, in some places wholly untrue, and a reflection of Mr. Scott's private notes and personal thoughts.

Other initiatives cited by the PLP's progress report, titled "We're Creating A Healthier Bermuda", include: anti-smoking laws set up by former Health Minister Patrice Minors; efforts to promote a safe and healthy workplace by taking part in the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers; and the building of the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility in St. George's.

The brochure describes Dr. Brown as an "internationally acclaimed physician renowned for his humanitarian efforts as well as his grassroots service to medicine".

It also says that travelling abroad for medical care is becoming a "thing of the past" because plans are underway to improve the quality of patient care at Bermuda's hospitals; while the introduction of urgent care clinics are proposed at both ends of the Island.

In a statement last night, Mrs. Jackson said: "The progress report on health which the PLP issued this week has lots of puff but precious little progress.

"For the PLP to congratulate itself on its handling of Bermuda's health care system when our hospital appears to be lurching from crisis management to crisis management, simply defies belief.

"After nine years of PLP government, Bermuda's health system is a shambles."

Mrs. Jackson cited a number of examples to back this claim, including:

• Ombudsman Arlene Brock's findings of political interference

• A snapshot of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital attributed by Mr. Scott to BHB CEO David Hill, referring to shaky finances, poor clinical safety, lack of managerial process and accountability and wrong staff being employed in the wrong places

• Four Health Ministers in little over a year.