Disgruntled staff at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital have met with union leaders in a bid to get mediation talks with management underway.

And hospital chiefs are due to meet with a labour relations negotiator later today in a bid to set up a timetable for the talks.

A meeting between the two camps was called for by the BPSA on Wednesday after nursing staff threatened industrial action unless their complaints were heard.

The Royal Gazette understands that the appointment of an expatriate, Leslie Shane, to a senior management position has angered staff at the trouble hit hospital. Ms Shane has only been working at the hospital for the last five months. Last night BPSA General Secretary Ed Ball said: "There has been a lot of talk today with management and the staff and the labour department.

"We are continuing talks and hopefully we should be able to get to a point where we diffuse the situation -- but this is only the beginning of the process.

"I'm hopeful that we can get an understanding between management and staff as soon as possible.'' And a spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed that the Bermuda Hospitals Board had approached Government's Labour Relations Department in a bid to appoint a mediator in future discussions.

"There were no talks between management and staff today but we have been in touch with the Labour Relations office for a mediator to assist us in this matter,'' the spokeswoman said.

"This is the first step in avoiding any industrial action.

"The executive director and director of human resources will be meeting with the mediator tomorrow, but from there I'm not sure what the mediation process is.

The spokeswoman also defended the board's decision to appoint Ms Shane to the key post.

"We are very interested to find out what the staff concerns are,'' the spokeswoman said.

"The decision to offer the promotion to Leslie Shane was simply a matter of the best candidate being offered the job and it was made subject to immigration approval.'' CONTINUING TALKS -- Ed Ball Jr.