Hospital facilities face a major overhaul over the next ten years as part of a widespread review.

Yesterday Bermuda Hospitals Board chairman Jonathan Brewin said work would start next year. It includes:

Intensive Care Unit renovations, which will start in January and last about eight months; and

Diagnostic Imaging Unit revamp in April. It will go on for ten months.

?We have a huge amount of work to do,? said Mr. Brewin. ?

We?re very excited about 2004. We?re planning not just from year to year... but for the next ten years.?

Mr. Brewin outlined the plans at yesterday?s luncheon meeting of Hamilton Rotary Club.

He said the hospital facilities had been in constant use for almost 45 years, and that the hospital building was built in 1965 for healthcare services of that area.

He gave a potential time frame for the replacement of the facilities within the next ten to 15 years. There were four key areas the BHB would be focusing on, he said: Finances, quality, communication, and ?the human factor?.

Global healthcare and medical costs continued to rise, he said, and next year the hospital planned to introduce a new charging structure on a ?fee for service? basis. ?Why? Because we need to understand the healthcare costs in our community.? The system, he said, would allow for better data to be collected, leading to better budgeting and management.

The BHB would also be working harder to improve their accounts receivable and minimise write-offs, he said. However, Mr. Brewin added: ?There?s no other business I?m aware of in Bermuda that has to accept every single person that comes through their doors... There will be a certain amount of write-off.?

Patient safety and care continued to be the number one priority for the BHB, he said. Though a recent BHB public perception survey found that 64 percent of the population found healthcare in Bermuda ?either excellent or good?, Mr. Brewin promised: ?We will continue to monitor and update our programmes and policies, organisational structure, and work closely with our doctors, nurses, quality and risk management team, insurance companies, and other stakeholders to ensure we not just meet but surpass internationally accredited standards in high quality patient care.?

Communication, he said, was ?a personal favourite? of his.

?In 2004 we plan to continue with this Board?s policy of more open communications, with the only major caveat being that patient confidentiality will be protected at all times.?

Communication wasimportant to help remove some political spin, he said.

The BHB would also be appointing Board members to act as staff advocates, making recommendations for continued improvement, he said.

?Employees are our biggest single cost item. These people present the face of the BHB to consumers and act as ambassadors for the BHB in the community. Effective and integrated internal communications that involve, motivate and empower staff will be key to improving performance, achieving change and growing our reputation.?

Mr. Brewin added: ?The Board actively recognises that in order to be a centre of excellence we must provide high quality health care services while maintaining fiscal stability in order to meet the community?s needs.?