beds. The inquiry, which is being handled by a group set up by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, comes after alarm over patients being forced to sleep in emergency department cots.

And old folk have also had to bed down in the children's ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Now Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness has stepped in to soothe concern.

He stressed health care had not been harmed by bed closures brought on by the recession. And he appealed for understanding and more public tolerance.

"No one's health has been jeopardised in any way,'' he emphasised.

Mr. Edness said the hospitals board had set up a committee to look into "the whole area of bed utilisation''. A report will be presented to the board in July.

"If there are recommendations that beds should reopen, then these will be considered,'' said Mr. Edness. "What we want is to look at the issue on a scientific basis.'' Mr. Edness explained there were two main reasons for bed closures -- the recession, and the need to make economies. There had been a belief for some time hospital beds could be used more efficiently.

Too many people were staying longer in hospital than necessary. And too many were entering earlier than necessary.

"The hospital felt by closing beds this would save a considerable amount of money,'' said Mr. Edness. "And it felt the use of beds being managed more efficiently should not interfere in any way with a person coming into hospital for surgery or any other reasons.'' Mr. Edness continued: "There have been occasions when the demand has increased which has led to the use on occasions of a portion of the emergency department and the children's ward by adults.

"But there has been a full complement of nursing staff, with available medical back-up, including doctors. Health care has not been jeopardised in any way.'' Taxpayers were also being saved a considerable amount of money, added Mr.

Edness. "Inefficient management of beds was contributing to health care costs which we all have to pay. We need to control costs by better promoting efficiencies in the use of beds.

"I would like the public to be understanding and more tolerant. I think they should know this is just one effort to keep the lid on costs.'' Mr. Edness also called for an end to the needless exodus of Bermudians to America for medical treatment.

Insurance companies have claimed residents are leading the Island into a US-style health crisis, with spiralling costs. Insurance premiums are being bumped up by about 20 percent to cope with the boom in costs.

Said Mr. Edness: "We have abused our health care system by carelessly going overseas when we know the care we are seeking can be provided here.'' Annual check-ups, for example, could be carried out in Bermuda, he added.

"Everytime somebody goes abroad for a check-up they are pushing up the costs in Bermuda. All of us are going to pay for it. We need to be more responsible, and support the board and whatever measures have been put in place to contain spiralling costs.''