health system of stretching the truth.

Mr. Edness hit back at claims by physician Dr. Ewart Brown that the Government blocked a plan to bring foreign specialists to Bermuda.

Dr. Brown, an adopted candidate for the Progressive Labour Party in Mr.

Edness's Warwick West constituency, said this week the Country would save hundreds of thousands of dollars by stopping the exodus of people seeking care abroad.

But Mr. Edness said: "He is incorrect. The Government takes its lead and guidance from the medical profession itself.

"The Medical Society and its members wish from time to time to bring consultants in. The Government has no objection to bringing consultants here.

"For good reason it does not allow people to bring any and everybody here. We have had a couple of general practitioners who have attempted to bring consultants here on their own. The consultant charges a fee from the patient, part of which goes to the GP.'' Mr. Edness said that part of his job was a responsibility to protect the public and to make sure any practices are carried out properly.

"Dr. Brown said doctors, hospitals and insurance companies agree with his ideas. We have never had a request from these bodies to allow an abundance of consultants to come in on a medical basis.''