Top bank executive Raymond Dill is set to become chairman of the powerful hospitals board, it can be revealed.

Health and Family Services Minister Nelson Bascome is expected to announce his new appointments shortly.

But The Royal Gazette can reveal that Mr. Dill -- on the old board with special responsibility for financial matters -- is set to get the top job.

Mr. Bascome declined to confirm or deny the appointment of Mr. Dill -- vice president of operations at the Bank of Bermuda.

But he added: "You're very well informed -- he has expertise and he is a valuable man to have on the board. But I'm not saying if he's going to be chairman.'' However, the new board is expected to be officially gazetted soon -- and Mr.

Dill is odds-on to be the chairman. Mr. Dill last week declined to comment on whether he would be appointed to the top job.

But it is understood his training in accountancy is reckoned to be ideal as the Island struggles to control the spiralling cost of health care.

He was a major influence on bids to cut costs in the medical field and prominent in the initiative to streamline the management structure of the King Edward, which was designed to save cash and provide better patient care.

And it is believed the new Government -- like the last one -- sees lessening the cost of medical treatment without damaging patient care as the number one priority over the next few years.

Also on the agenda for Mr. Dill's board are fewer -- but more effective -- strategies and improving staff morale. The news came as Mr. Bascome joined the controversy over the King Edward V11 Memorial Hospital considering acquiring a $2 million-plus hi-tech imaging machine by backing the move.

The Bermuda Medical Society is understood to have come out against the plan, insisting the money could be better spent elsewhere -- especially as the 150-250 patients a year likely to need the scanner can be treated quickly in the US.

But proposals to buy a machine have split the medical profession, with some doctors backing the purchase of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, which gives a better picture than X-rays, but without a dose of radiation.

Mr. Bascome -- while stressing the final decision will be the hospital board's -- said: "I'm in favour. Bermuda is moving ahead and I don't think the doctors who are opposed right now have gone very far in doing their research.

"They're using approximate figures and I don't know how much it will cost to send people abroad.'' He added: "I like it -- I think it's good -- and I've never heard anyone say it's not a good thing to have. And I can't see the cost of health care going up an awful lot if we had the machine there. But the board will be doing their bit on that.

"They've got a few proposals in and each has to be looked at in terms of its economic value to the Island and the cost to the Island as well.

"But I think Bermuda is moving forward and we have got to prepare ourselves.

People on an Island as isolated as we are, we should be looking to give the public the best of health care.'' GOVERNMENT GVT APPOINTMENT APP