Forty percent of the recommendations arising out of the infamous Kurron report have been implemented, Government Senator Walter Roban reported yesterday.

Recommendations regarding nursing will be implemented this year, with the Bermuda Hospitals Board considering revamping nursing shifts and premiums for night and weekend shifts.

While Opposition Senators complained that the Kurron report itself has not been made public, Senate President Alf Oughton noted the report has been shared with hospital staff: ?In other words, the people that need to know, know about it?.

Sen. Oughton, an independent senator, said Government ought to be trumpeting the hospital subsidies it gives to children and the elderly. Government awards 100 percent subsidies to children and the indigent, while seniors between the ages of 65-75 have 80 percent of their costs subsidised and those over the age of 75 have 90 percent of their costs subsidised.

However Sen. Oughton suggested that Government give each indigent person a Hospital Insurance Plan (HIP) policy to prevent those deemed indigent from going ?cap in hand? to Government. He also suggested Government do away with the youth subsidy, save for indigent children, as he estimated 90 percent of children were already covered under their parents? insurance policies.

The Estate Master Plan for the hospitals is due by May, 2005, while capital projects such as upgrades to the morgue and the Watson Ward at St. Brendan?s Hospital are in the works for 2005/06.