Government came under fire last night for allowing the Island's hospitals to run into a state of disrepair.

Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley tabled a series of photographs during the Budget debate on health in Parliament showing exposed wiring and pipes, a hole in the floor and rusty patches on the floors and walls, which he claimed had been taken at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in the last two or three days.

He said if money had been invested earlier, the Bermuda Hospitals Board would not have to go to such huge lengths to correct the damage that had arisen over time.

But Health Minister Nelson Bascome said the photographs showed areas that were already under construction and were being tended to now, and he said Government was taking steps to revamp the hospitals.

He also said the board, along with the Bank of Bermuda, was launching a $35 million fundraising campaign to enable both hospitals to be massively overhauled.

But the Minister said that both the intensive care unit and the laundry section were being totally revamped, and the morgue was being expanded and upgraded this year, along with a phased refurbishment of the wards.

Mr. Dunkley said: "For anyone that visits King Edward VII Memorial Hospital or needs treatment, they will be confronted by an alarming increase in dirty and unhygienic conditions.

"Constant construction or a very old facility in bad need of repair causes a lot of this. However, in spite of these drawbacks to the highest standards of hygiene needed, a lot can still be done to improve our day to day cleanliness."

Mr. Dunkley said the Smith Government was not working.

He added: "As I highlighted last year, the morgue needs a revamp as soon as possible; the laundry is falling apart and costing us an arm and a leg to operate; the entire plumbing and air conditioning systems needs to be replaced or revamped, the continuing care unit needs attention; maternal care and maternity need work; the nurses' residence needs renovation, and the list goes on."

Mr. Dunkley said he had been told that leaks from the kitchen were causing problems in operating rooms below.

And he said he believed the multi-million dollar MRI machine had been brought in at great cost without a needs survey being done first.

He added: "This initiative was rushed through, leapfrogging other very important projects, such as the intensive care unit - which is temporarily in the rear of emergency, which itself is having problems.

"Look at the results of building the MRI area - a very valuable piece of equipment is stuck on the corner of the entrance to the emergency building, leaving staff and clients to work in cramped quarters.

"This will certainly require a review and refurbishment in a very short period of time. This project cost us millions. I call it squandered money that is sure to cost Bermuda even more in the future.

"King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's continue to face grave financial difficulties and crumbling physical plants because of four-and-a-half years of inattention by the Smith Government."

But Mr. Bascome said there were many plans in the works, not least the upgrade and expansion of the intensive care unit.

He said the $2.5 million revamp, which he expects to be completed by October this year, will see the department fitted with a capacity of ten beds and equipped with cutting-edge technology which will maintain health care for critically ill patients for the next 15 to 20 years.

And the Minister said a new laundry section was being built, which would support both hospitals.

He said: "These capital projects are long outstanding and their completion will greatly enhance the service provided by the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

"The ageing physical buildings and infrastructure of both King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's Hospital continue to be a major challenge for the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

"The state of the old plumbing and electrical systems in the old buildings are in a critical state of repair and need urgent attention.

"The Bermuda Hospitals Board has made the upgrade of the plumbing system, an urgent priority for the fiscal year 2003-2004."

But Mr. Bascome said the board was seeking to address the "critical infrastructural problems" as the first steps towards the restoration of the hospitals.

"This brings me to the Bermuda Hospitals Board thrust towards the launch of a capital campaign to realise additional sources of funding to bring about the realisation of its priorities for the new fiscal year and beyond.

"The monies earned will be utilised specifically for the completion of our capital projects, and address a major part of the maintenance needs of the physical and infrastructural plant."

Mr. Dunkley asked why Government expected people to buy into the fundraising campaign when he claimed there was "an alarming loss of confidence" in the hospitals.

He added: "It is really unfortunate when patients stay in a ward where the ceiling has collapsed and rusting, deteriorated piping is seen for days on end.

"Doctors, nurses and patients are complaining."

And he said the "scaled and basic" plan to close and renovate wards one at a time would have been unnecessary if money had been invested earlier.