and hospital services.

Londoner Mr. Michael Moran suffered a broken nose after being attacked from behind. Cash was also taken from him.

But the 24-year-old claimed Police failed to arrive when he staggered to a nearby phone.

And after going to the local Police station he was forced to spend time giving a statement before going to hospital, he added.

Mr. Moran also claimed he had to "wait an unacceptable amount of time'' at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

But yesterday the Police and hospital strongly defended themselves.

The attack occurred on Tuesday night, while Mr. Moran and a friend were walking back from St. George's.

Mr. Moran was struck on the head, and $60 or $70 taken from him. When he escaped and called Police from the Gunpowder Tavern down the road, no-one arrived, he said.

He later found his friend driving around in a neighbour's car. The pair went to the Police Station.

Mr. Moran said he had to wait an hour, giving a statement, before he could go to the hospital.

Meanwhile, he said, Police took his friend to a St. George's nightclub.

He claimed the officers turned on the lights to hold an "impromptu'' line-up.

Mr. Moran insisted neither he nor his friend were complaining, although he viewed this as insensitive.

Police spokesman Sgt. John Dale said Mr. Martin should have made a formal complaint, not through the newspaper. He declined to comment further.

A spokesman for the hospital's emergency room said Tuesday night was quite busy, with several assaults and a cardiac arrest.

"It was not a quiet Emergency Room that night,'' he said.

Mr. Hume Martin, executive director of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said the records showed Mr. Moran only had to wait an hour while the X-Rays were being processed. This was "quite reasonable'', he said.

"It may not be what he's used to, but Bermuda doesn't have a 24-hour X-Ray service,'' Mr. Martin said.