two hospitals.

The nurses at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's Hospital were specifically mentioned in the Canadian Council on Health Facilities Accreditation.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness was quick to add his praise for the nurses. He said: "We should be rightly proud of them.'' The three year accreditation is a major award which 40 percent of Canada's hospital failed to achieve.

It is the third consecutive time the Bermuda hospitals have received the award and follows an intensive survey.

A five person team spent three days in May looking into the establishments and offered a number of recommendations.

Chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Board Mr. Robert Tucker said he was pleased with the accreditation.

He read out comments from the report of the accreditation council: "Congratulations to you and all your staff for having successfully achieved this award level. Our board recognised that all essential services/programmes were demonstrating a good level of compliance with council's standards.

"The Bermuda Hospitals Board is congratulated on having provided the necessary direction and leadership to achieve this award level.

"The Board, medical staff, management and hospital staff are commended for progress made since the previous accreditation survey. The careful attention paid to the recom mendations from that survey are acknowledged.

"Upgrading of facilities at both King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St.

Brendan's Hospital are commendable as is the recent adoption of total quality management.'' The Bermuda Hospitals Board will consider the plans at their next meeting and develop plans to implement the "many helpful'' recommendations.

Executive Director Mr. Hume Martin stressed that he wanted to concentrate first on the dozens of commendations in the report. These included praise for the board's commitment and orientation programme.

In general the hospitals' housekeeping were praised for their cleanliness as well as their laundry and linen services.

Emergency and intensive care were "noteworthy'' and both departments of nursing were singled out for praise in the report.

Recommendations included the need for a long term plan and greater board involvement in quality assurance.

Mr. Martin said: "This hospital has done what 40 percent of Canadian hospitals do not do. Fully 40 percent do not provide the type of service that we provide.'' Mr. Tucker said: "The Hospitals Board has congratulated staff throughout the hospitals for the many specific commendations received for care and services provided which meet and in many cases exceed accreditation standards.'' The Minister added his praise to all departments. He said: "It is tremendous.

It shows both hospitals are first class.

"It proves that the services provided are good in comparison to many available in North America.

"We have an outstanding nursing staff. They do a tremendous job out there. I am very pleased about this accreditation.''