Legislation that aims to deal with a growing backlog of unresolved complaints against health professionals has been passed by senators.

Lauren Bell, the Junior Minister of Health, said the Health Professionals (Complaints Committees) Amendment Act 2026, dropped the requirement that at least one member of panels hearing complaints must be a lawyer.

She said the complaints committees are currently unable to fulfil their legislated functions due to difficulties in securing attorneys willing to serve.

She said: “This challenge has contributed to a growing backlog of unresolved complaints and significant delays in complaint processing, which undermines natural justice.”

The Bill amends the Nursing and Midwifery Act 1997, the Dental Practitioners Act 1950, and the Optometrists and Opticians Act 2008 to remove the requirement that one member of each respective professional complaints committee be a barrister, an attorney admitted and enrolled in Bermuda, and to allow the Minister of Health to appoint members qualified by training, experience, or both, to assist with the complaints committees in matters of legal or ethical nature.

It was heard the Minister of Health has historically appointed 14 attorneys to serve on regulatory authorities and complaints conduct committees, but filling these positions is proving to be a challenge.

Ms Bell said: “This bill seeks to align committee composition across all regulated professionals by providing for an expanded pool of eligible candidates available for the appointment to PCCs, while also maintaining appropriate skill requirements for the position, thus supporting fairness and due process in reviewing complaints about regulated health professionals.”

She added: “These amendments will provide greater flexibility in appointing appropriately qualified members to the complaints committees and support the timely and fair consideration of complaints concerning regulated health professionals.”