A hospital boss has publicly defended a decision not to allow a recently qualified gynaecologist to practice her speciality on the Island.

The Hospitals Board refused to grant Dr. Wendy Woods full privileges because she is not yet board certified even though she has passed a written examination in America.

But in order to be board certified in the US, trainees are expected to take a second exam after practising for two years -- something that is not required of specialists in other countries such as the UK and Canada.

But hospital officials were quick to point out that Dr. Woods wil be allowed to practise as a general practitioner and will have "minor privileges'' in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Yesterday the board's executive director Sheila Manderson defended the decision, which was criticised in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

"While sympathetic to Dr. Woods' situation, the Bermuda Hospitals Board has stated that major privileges should not be granted in advance of her speciality registration,'' Mrs. Manderson said in a memorandum read in the House of Assembly yesterday by Health Minister Quinton Edness.

"To do so would place considerable liability on the board as they would in fact be violating their policies.

"Furthermore this might create a further dilemma should Dr. Woods not be successful in her oral exam in the United States.

"Furthermore Dr. Woods has taken the Canadian Boards examination and was not successful.

"The board has approved the appointment of Dr. Woods to the Associate Medical Staff as a General Practitioner, with minor privileges in obstetrics and gynaecology.

"Dr. Woods has been advised that the board is very much interested in supporting talented young Bermudians when they return home and intends to vigorously pursue the issue with the Minister of Health for a possible solution.

"She has also been advised to retake the Canadian examination as Canada does not require an interim two year period of independent practice. She could then return home to Bermuda and be given full privileges.'' The issue also created a furore in the closing minutes of House of Assembly debates last night.

Leading Progressive Labour Party MP David Allen accused Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness of trying to have the matter dealt with "behind closed doors''.

He said Mr. Edness, who is also acting Health Minister, wanted to have the controversy "swept under the carpet'' when it was introduced to the House by Dr. Ewart Brown.

Mr. Allen said: "I was really quite appalled to hear the response of the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.

"He put a spin on it which suggested the matter should have been dealt with behind closed doors and not brought before this chamber.

"But this is the place for the people's business and the public is done a disservice to say otherwise.'' But Mr. Edness added: "We all remember the dramatics and the condemnation that was placed on the officials of the hospital and on this Government by the honourable and learned Dr. Brown when he brought this matter to the House.

"He cannot take that back. But never did I use the term `sweeping the matter under the carpet' or `dealing with it behind closed doors'.

"We heard the honourable member Mr. Allen saying I used that language. There needn't have been any condemnation of the hospitals board or the credentials committee because they were just doing their job.

"Yet we were subjected to all kinds of accusations. The board is working hard to try to find a solution to this problem.'' HEALTH HTH