Hospitals chief David Hill yesterday dismissed suggestions from a damning Ombudsman's report that Bermuda Hospitals Board is readily overruled by the Ministry of Health.

The BHB chief executive officer insisted there is no political interference at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, and that the new-look team running the hospital does not feel its authority is undermined.

Among a string of findings over race issues at the hospital, Arlene Brock's report revealed how many white people felt a "powerful black doctor" was targeting the "white power elite" who unfairly denied him entry into the profession in Bermuda years ago.

She also pointed to an "insidious, growing, political interference" at KEMH.

Yesterday, BHB CEO Mr. Hill said a board shake-up had taken place since Ms Brock began compiling her report, which featured more than 100 interviews with medical staff, BHB members, administrative staff and the public.

However, he failed to directly rule out claims that BHB's recommendation was overturned by Government during the awarding of a $13.5 million management consultancy contract to Kurron Shares earlier this year.

Ms Brock's report, 'A Tale Of Two Hospitals', released last Friday, stated: "Many white interviewees complain that the problems are really not about race, but rather about an insidious, growing, political interference with the BHB that seeps throughout the hospital.

"A few members of the BHB have also expressed discomfort with the amount of current political influence. They question what the role of the board should be if it can be readily overruled by the Ministry."

Mr. Hill responded yesterday: "My view is there's no political interference. The board is operating well and effectively and it understands the clear distinction in the roles of management at the Hospitals Board and the role of the Government. The current board now in place understands that.

"I would say the current board feel that they have got the authority to do the roles they need to. I can't comment on previous regimes."

Since Ms Brock started compiling her report last year, Anthony Richardson and Edwin Wilson have both held the post of BHB chairman, while the current incumbent is Herman Tucker. Several board members have left.

At least one former board member has alleged BHB called for Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine International, described as one of the leading medical institutes in the US, to be appointed as management consultants.

The eventual selection of lesser-known Kurron led to accusations of cronyism from Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson, who claimed Kurron was run by a friend of Premier Ewart Brown.

Yesterday, Mr. Hill was asked if BHB had recommended Johns Hopkins. He replied: "I think there was a proper process put in place that involved the board and the Ministry of Health, and that process was properly observed by all.

"It resulted in an appointment being made and that arrangement is working out extremely well."

Pressed for a yes or no answer on whether BHB had recommended Johns Hopkins, he replied: "This was a complete process and it ran on proper lines. I can't comment on individual stages of that process. Everyone acted within their roles and relationships."

On the "powerful black doctor", Ms Brock said: "Many white interviewees believe that he is targeting the white power elite who it is widely believed (by blacks and whites) to have unfairly denied him entry into the profession in Bermuda years ago.

"There is no evidence that his keen interest in matters involving the hospital stem from such motives.

"On the other hand, some of the black interviewees suspect that work permit black doctors who are his friends may be targeted by the same white medical elite — not because they are black, but because of their association.

"That is, these doctors are little more than pawns or, more accurately, proxies in a battle between the old and new Bermudas."

Ms Brock's 111-page report concluded that race was a "major divisive force" at KEMH. Yesterday, Mr. Hill said good progress was already being made implementing Ms Brock's 15 recommendations.

"We welcome the fact that the report is there. It's comprehensive, it's thorough, it's professional. It puts all the issues onto the table," he said.

"Our duty is to look at the thorough and painstaking research that's gone into this to make sure we look at these recommendations. The good thing is it's got everything out. As a board, we are now going to sit down and take this forward."

Asked whether he had seen many examples of racism during his first few months as CEO, Mr. Hill said: "No, because any time it's pointed out to us, we take action. There are very few isolated incidents and when they are pointed out they are dealt with."

The hospital's new chief of staff Donald Thomas III said some of the issues in the report had already been identified.

"It was gratifying to me to find that the report pointed out problems that we had almost independently started to work on. We need to progress with them," said Dr. Thomas.

See tomorrow's Royal Gazette for a full report on the findings from 'A Tale Of Two Hospitals'.