Seniors should expect an easier time getting access to services, support and advice following a mending of bridges between the Health Ministry and Age Concern Bermuda.

And Health Minister Patrice Minors has been praised for showing "political maturity" in responding to critical observations on her Ministry by seeking closer co-operation and understanding with the Age Concern organisation rather than making an adversarial response.

The fruits of the closer working relationship between the two will be seen in the new year.

For seniors it should mean less confusion about where to go for services and support and less money being wasted in unco-ordinated duplicate efforts.

Announcing the renewed collaboration to the House of Assembly on Friday, Mrs. Minors said: "Some weeks ago there were stories in the Press about some friction between the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged, which operates from the Ministry of Health and Family Services, and Age Concern.

"Some felt that we weren't getting along as well as we could and didn't communicate like two organisations with essentially the same mission and goals should.

"Well, we heard what was being said and we took action to correct those perceptions."

As a result Mrs. Minors met with the heads of the NOSPC and Age Concern for discussions, which resulted in the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding designed to establish "structured means of communication to promote continuous and constructive dialogue."

She said it would enhance delivery of services to Bermuda's seniors and avoid counter-productive duplication of effort.

In the future the managers of the two organisations will meet on a regular basis.

"I am certain this will lead to greater co-operation, better communication and ultimately, better services for seniors," she added.

It was in October that a breakdown in communication between the Ministry and Age Concern was highlighted after Age Concern gave its own report card-type assessment of the Government's 2004 Throne Speech pledges concerning the care of seniors.

While some promises had been fulfilled there were other issues that had not been acted upon, according to Age Concern chief executive Claudette Fleming. This led Mrs. Minors to acknowledge that a plan for regular meetings had regrettably fallen by the wayside.

Responding to the announcement in the House, Ms. Fleming on Friday told The Royal Gazette that such a joined-up approach was "overdue" and she was delighted at a mechanism was now in place to bring a closer working relationship between the Ministry and Age Concern.

She praised Ms. Minors for her attitude to seek a solution, and said: "When we made our statement, speaking to the Social Agenda, there was always the risk of being seen as adversarial. We congratulate the Minister for showing political maturity, she saw this as constructive criticism and an opportunity for us to work towards some solutions."

Explaining how seniors should now benefit, Ms. Fleming said: "There will be a co-ordinated effort, so some of the frustration people feel from having two different messages being put out or having to go here, there and everywhere to get a solution will be removed. We are looking at having a seamless system for better use of resources."