Comprised of community members, the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust (BHCT) was established to ensure donated funds were properly and efficiently managed.

"Our hospitals have had a long association with the community," said BHB chairman Jonathan Brewin yesterday, as he announced the formation of the BHCT.

"Donated community funds were used to build the King Edward VII Memorial (KEMH) facility, and have at least assisted with almost every important upgrade or new acquisition since 1965. In this new age of transparency and accountability, we felt it was important to set up an independent body to accept contributions from donors. This is all part of the strategic change in the way we manage our time and finances efficiently."

Sitting on the Charitable Trust Board are representatives from various sectors of the community, each of whom brings a wide range of skills ? Philip Butterfield, David Lang, Gil Tucker, Andrew Martin, Jonathan Brewin, Lady Jacqueline Swan, Brian Duperreault, Alan Thompson, Gavin Arton, Peggy Couper, Garry Madeiros, Jane Spurling, Austin Thomas and Dr. Wilbert Warner.

"I believe that healthcare is one of the most important issues in Bermuda today," said Mr. Butterfield, the Trust's chairman. "I have great confidence in the leadership of the BHB.

"My fellow trustees and I look forward to providing advice, raising funds, and assisting in the wise distribution of donations to further enhance the facilities of these fine institutions. Our initial operating expenses have been funded by the private sector and this gives us a great level of confidence for our future fund-raising efforts.

"Our partnership with the BHB will be good for the health of all Bermuda residents. If this team can't get it done, who can?"

The Trust will be responsible for advising, and for all aspects of fund-raising for the BHB as well as managing the distribution of donations. To its part, the BHB will be completely accountable to the Trust.

This week, the BHB announced it was requesting proposals from leading hospital planners as part of its aim to introduce the latest technology to St. Brendan's and KEMH. "(KEMH) was originally built in 1920 and comprehensively extended in 1965," said George Melling, BHB's director of Facilities Management. "Similarly, St. Brendan's was built in 1875 and updated in the 1960s to provide healthcare services appropriate for that era.

"There have been many significant advances in modern medicine and, while these bring great benefits to the community, they also bring immense challenges to hospital facilities. The buildings are aged and well-worn and we need to create a healthcare environment that will accommodate the very high level of services demanded by the community of Bermuda."

Once all proposals are reviewed and a detailed planning exercise ? scheduled for this summer ? conducted, the BHB should have a master scheme outlining the healthcare provisions needed for the island.

"A combination of factors including Bermuda's weather have adversely impacted the hospital environment over the years," Mr. Brewin said. "In addition, we have been forced to adapt our space so we can introduce new technology that the hospitals were not originally designed to support. In order to be a centre of excellence, we must provide high-quality healthcare services and facilities that meet the community's needs. As we undergo this extensive planning exercise, we will examine the relevant costs to ensure that the solution we choose makes the best possible use of available finances."

The BHB chairman first spoke publicly of needed improvements to the nearly 40-year-old expanded KEMH, during an interview with this newspaper last year. At that time he said that between $25 and $30 million was needed; funds which, among other things, would see the building rewired, poor plumbing addressed, various facilities improved and repaired and state-of-the-art technologies introduced.

In a later interview, BHB chief executive officer Joan Dillas-Wright listed the expected costs as being "closer to $35 to $40 million", but said that a feasibility survey indicated the public favoured the improvements.

"The cost is significant. But the information we received from the feasibility study we conducted is that the community will support the campaign," she said in July of last year. "KEMH is the only (medical hospital) on the island and there are high expectations. People come in and they want to see a hospital with good standards, good quality of care, and the latest technological services."

The Trust will begin planning for a capital campaign once the BHB has completed its estate planning process ? at present, estimated at sometime next year.

The BHCT is a registered charity, managed by executive director Wendy Augustus.