Premier Ewart Brown yesterday expressed his confidence that the hospital redevelopment was in good hands.

Bermuda Hospitals Board named Paget Health Services, a consortium of local and international businesses, as the preferred contractor last month.

The two entities are now in negotiations to decide the final price of the redevelopment. An early estimate stated the project could cost approximately $315 million.

The project will integrate the existing framework of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with new buildings.

The facility will include 90 single occupancy ensuite patient rooms, a day surgery unit, ambulatory care facilities, diagnostic imaging services, a new emergency room and a new utility plant.

Construction could start as early as December.

Yesterday Dr. Brown said: "Improving the standard of health care for the people of Bermuda has been one of the major goals of this Government."

He said Government had focused on delivering FutureCare, a comprehensive health insurance scheme for many of the Island's elderly, as well as building the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre and ending the indigent clinic.

"Of all our accomplishments, I am particularly proud of the progress that has been made at the hospital," Dr. Brown said.

"Under the leadership of the Bermuda Hospitals Board we have witnessed a rise in standards, an improvement in service and a renewed confidence in not just the facility, but in the men and women who work tirelessly within its walls to protect and preserve the health and lives of our people.

"Standing on the site of this new facility, looking at the design and knowing the players involved, I am confident that the future for health care in Bermuda and the future of the new hospital are in good hands.

"Our people deserve world-class health care and a world-class facility in which to receive it. With this new facility every Bermudian can expect that to be achieved."

Health Minster Walter Roban added that the public-private partnership model, which the BHB has chosen to fund the project, may well be the way forward for other large Government projects.