secure jobs in the recent staff shake-up at the King Edward Hospital.

The ten were placed on fully paid leave two months ago and given time to consider their futures at the hospital. The Bermuda Hospitals Board had offered the nurses alternative positions at the centre after they failed to secure newly-created project manager posts.

But Wednesday night BHB executive director Sheila Manderson confirmed the paid leave agreement -- which has cost the hospital thousands of dollars -- expired last Friday.

"We had asked for a response last Friday,'' Mrs. Manderson said.

"All I can say is that the administrative leave ended then and the board has made its final offer and it's now up to the individual members concerned.'' The ten nurses had demanded a lump sum settlement, arguing because their former jobs had been axed, they had been made redundant.

It is not known whether they will take any further action following Friday's decision. Bermuda Public Services Association general secretary Ed Ball Jr., who had been representing the nursing staff in talks with the board, would not comment.