A Bermudian vice-president of a hospital consultancy firm says she helps to make sure it is sensitive to the needs of the Island.

Ianthia Wade Simmons, the former administrator of Summerhaven and widow of former PLP leader the late Freddie Wade, has been in her position as VP Operations to Kurron Bermuda Limited for almost a year. The firm has a five-year $11 million contract to give management assistance to the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

Mrs. Wade said she welcomed the challenge to ensure the company was Bermuda sensitive. "Kurron is a company whose vision is to provide innovative and related development services.

"In a number of cases they will take over a hospital and then turn it back, but Bermuda was not turning the hospital over to anyone.

"They (Kurron Shares) make hospitals profitable. Bermuda needed support, but it decided it didn't wish to be taken over. That's the most important part with me, I think, being in this position.

"Any time a foreign company comes into Bermuda it's imperative they have a Bermudian on the team. First of all we know what Bermudians take offence with. They get offended if you don't put a value on what they do.

"I am trying to ensure that Kurron is using the resources of this country and sensitive to this country and Bermuda makes the most of the consultants. We make sure they do what they are put to do."

As part of its contract, Kurron helped place a number of healthcare administrators and develop succession plan for placing Bermudians in senior roles as well as helping with modernising the hospital wards.

The company is run by Corbett Price, a friend of Premier Ewart Brown, which has led to calls of cronyism from the Opposition United Bermuda Party.

The company was also hired by the Ministry of Health on a $1 million contract to implement the senior health care benefits plan — or FutureCare.

Mrs. Wade Simmons has also faced-down her two years of controversy and conflict after being dismissed as administrator for Summerhaven in 2008 after 22-years at the home.

The Board of the facility for the physically impaired suspected her of financial mismanagement and suspended her. A Government internal audit found Mrs. Wade-Simmons' had not financially mismanaged the facility and in March this year the Board withdrew all allegations.

Mrs. Wade-Simmons said when she was suspended from Summerhaven, with three children in university, she needed to find a secure job.

The idea of becoming a consultant to Kurron, Mrs. Wade-Simmons said, was hers and was a role she could fill with her long-term experience in the healthcare field.

Starting at 16, Mrs. Wade-Simmons volunteered in the hospital and has since served on the Bermuda Hospitals Board as well as having a Masters in Health Services Management from George Washington University.

This, and her time spent at Summerhaven, Mrs. Wade-Simmons said was what propelled her into her new position.

She said: "My passion is health and health care. I have no bitterness (about being let-go by Summerhaven). I decided that I wanted to help to ensure that Kurron, as a major contractor with Bermuda, was sensitive and aware of the needs of Bermudians and Bermuda.

"Based on my background I approached Kurron's president and created a job and explained to him how I could help in terms of their contract with Bermuda.

"I think it's important to have someone on your team who can guide you and look out for their best interest in Bermuda."