Doctor and Government Minister Ewart Brown has slammed Bermuda's only hospital for having "horrendous problems'' and accused some doctors at the facility of "unprofessional conduct''.

But despite being questioned about the allegations by The Royal Gazette he refused to expand publicly on his remarks about the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Brown made the comments in a letter defending a Boston clinic that his own practice has close ties with. The letter is believed to have been circulated amongst the Island's physicians.

Dr. Brown said that he had received reports that certain physicians were refusing to refer patients to the consultancy services of the Lahey Clinic, an act which he described as "the most unprofessional conduct''.

The letter, which was obtained by The Royal Gazette , states: "In recent weeks numerous patients and doctors have reported to Dr. Meade and me that they have been told by a few physicians that the Lahey Clinic has suddenly become a place to avoid.

"Under the guise of being informed, these doctors, some of whom occupy high-level positions at KEMH, have engaged in the most unprofessional conduct.

It is clearly the referring doctor's choice as to where he or she refers the patient but it is fundamentally incorrect to malign an institution for personal or political reasons.

"I am making a public request that those physicians who are engaging in this conduct cease and desist immediately and spend more of their time fixing the horrendous problems at our hospital. We cannot afford to point the finger at any hospital.'' In an interview, Dr. Brown refused to explain his comments, saying they referred to internal matters and were not intended for the public.

Hospital problems But he is now under pressure to provide more details after Shadow Health Minister Kim Young heard about the allegations.

Former nurse Mrs. Young said: "I think it's his duty to come out and say what these problems are if they're in the medical profession because it will affect the overall health of the community.

"The Minister of Health has put $1 million for a new health plan in the community and everyone has the right to good health care. If there are problems that he's aware of it's his duty to stand up and say what they are so they can be solved.'' Mrs. Young said she did not know what specific problems Dr. Brown was referring to but added that she had heard there was "some sort of disquiet'' at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She referred to the recent dispute by some nurses over the introduction of a new management structure at the facility and also questioned whether a replacement for Bermuda Hospitals Board executive director Sheila Manderson had been found. Ms Manderson is set to leave in July.

"I had heard that the succession plan for Ms Manderson's job was in place but the rumour is that that succession plan has now been eradicated,'' Mrs. Young said.

A BHB spokeswoman could not confirm or deny that the succession plan had been scrapped but added that the closing date for applications for Ms Manderson's successor had only just closed.

And she was also unable to explain Dr. Brown's allegation that the hospital was suffering from "horrendous problems''.

"Why don't you ask him,'' she said.

Dr. Ewart Brown Graphic file name: EBROW