Extra equipment is being flown to Bermuda following problems with the sterilisation machine at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Some elective surgeries have had to be postponed ? but the hospital hopes to be back to normal early this week.

Last week the chief executive of the hospital board said the sterilisation machine problems centred on the steam supply line.

Ms Joan Dillas-Wright said: "This did slow down some sterilisation processes, so some elective surgical procedures were postponed.

"The hospital has been handling emergencies ? including some major surgery satisfactorily.

"It has also been able to process a reduced number of elective procedures."

The hospital would like to apologise to elective surgery patients for any inconvenience, she added. "It is important to stress that this issue has not in any way compromised patient safety."

Chairman of the Bermuda Hospital Board, Jonathan Brewin, said: "Additional equipment and expertise is being flown to Bermuda in order to return to full capacity.

"In the meantime, the decision has been taken to postpone routine elective surgeries until early next week. We are reviewing the situation daily and regular updates will be made available to the media."

Mr. Brewin said: "The hospital's ability to treat emergency cases is not affected by this situation and provisions have been made to deal with acute elective cases."