Bermuda's hospitals have received top marks from health body Accreditation Canada.

Only 20 percent of Canadian hospitals achieve the unconditional accreditation awarded to Bermuda, according to Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB). The group's report, based on evidence provided at the end of 2008, records all 25 Safety Areas for Required Organisational Practices are now being met at BHB.

BHB's compliance rate was also higher than Canada's national compliance rate in all eight of the Quality Dimensions and in all but two of the 16 High Priority Criteria measured by Accreditation Canada.

It marks an improvement on 2005, when BHB was awarded Accreditation with Focused Visit, even though BHB says the new process in 2008 was more robust and, for the first time, BHB was working to Canadian standards, which are more stringent that those used by Accreditation Canada's international hospitals.

Wendy Nicklin, CEO of Accreditation Canada, stated: "We are very impressed by the progress Bermuda Hospitals Board has made since their last accreditation. People in Bermuda should be extremely proud of what their hospitals have achieved and feel reassured that BHB has chosen to be measured against standards of excellence. This is an important step in Bermuda Hospitals Board's ongoing journey of quality improvement."

Health Minister Nelson Bascome said in a Ministerial Statement in the House of Assembly on Friday: "Achieving unconditional accreditation means that Bermuda Hospitals Board is meeting internationally recognised standards and processes.

"It is a sign that processes and standards related to patient safety and quality care are being followed, but Bermuda Hospitals Board is aware that there are still more improvements to make. Accreditation Canada introduce new standards each year as the bar is constantly being raised and work at Bermuda Hospitals Board is already underway to meet the new 2009 standards."

BHB Chairman Herman Tucker stated: "I would like to congratulate the staff at Bermuda Hospitals Board for achieving accreditation, and successfully responding to a more robust process than before and against tougher standards.

The final report is being made public for the first time on BHB's website at www.bermudahospitals.bm.