The probe into Bermuda's health care was split into four sections -- each with its own task force.

Each task force made a list of recommendations which amounted to 24 pages, out of a report that is about 250 pages long.

The different groups were the Quality of Care group, Care Costs, Needs Assessment and Finance. Below are some of the recommendations made by each group.

QUALITY OF CARE recommendations include: Monitoring each patient from the door of the hospital emergency room to prevent delays. The report notes this has already been put in place.

Decrease waiting times at doctors' offices and emergency room.

Setting up a non-urgent clinic outside the hospital to be run by the Department of Health.

Pass into law draft regulations governing rest homes and set up a body to conduct surveys of rest homes.

Set up a new senior centre in the East End and exempt pensioners from prescription charges.

Revise insurance coverage for seniors, teenagers and gym slip mums.

Increase specialist care such as an ear, nose and throat specialist to prevent overseas treatment.

Allow more specialists into Bermuda on a full or part-time basis and keep track of Bermudian doctors trained abroad and whether they expect to return to Bermuda.

CARE COSTS recommendations include: Setting up a Bermuda Health Council to co-ordinate and integrate all health care services to ensure they are delivered in a cost effective way.

The BHC should also recommend changes to the health care system in order to contain costs without jeopardising the quality of care.

In addition, the BHC would develop a Bermuda Health Plan to replace the existing hospital insurance plan which will provide universal cover at an affordable price, promote healthy living and give alternatives to hospital care.

Instigate an Island-wide asthma education campaign to reduce hospital costs.

Prevention and education is a major theme of all four task groups.

Carry out an in-depth review of dental practices due to the costs in this area. It is recommended that a committee is set up to "thoroughly investigate the practices and procedures of the private dental industry''.

Set up a new centre to reduce reliance on one main drug wholesaler and reduce prices and encourage doctors to prescribe generic drugs -- cheaper but just as effective drugs.

NEEDS recommendations include: A Department of Health community health assessment which can discover priority needs so a health plan can be developed. In addition, it can be used to draw up a health promotion and disease prevention plan.

Develop a comprehensive system of vital records, hospital data and disease statistics which should be overseen by a steering committee.

Every five years convene round the table discussions with key individuals and organisations to review goals and needs.

Produce annual reports on the state of the population's health.

FINANCE recommendations include: Expanding the function of the Hospital Insurance Commission to help finance preventative and home care.

Expand the subsidies for the aged to 100 percent.

Remove the youth subsidy, but gradually increase parents' premiums.

Increased help and insurance cover for the poor -both elderly and youth.

To reduce health costs through education, ensure the public does not over use medical services and develop fee guidelines which would be visible in doctors' offices.

All the task forces agree that the Bermuda Health Council and Bermuda Health Plan be set up.

They say Government should be a stakeholder along with the Hospital Insurance Commission.

However the report says: "The Council should be apolitical and should not report to a specific Minister. It should have the freedom and authority to control the health care system.''