Specialist doctors from overseas will be brought into Bermuda after Government announced a new partnership with three major health bodies in the US.

Premier Ewart Brown says less patients will have to travel abroad for treatment following the link-up with Johns Hopkins Medicine, in Maryland, Baltimore, and Lahey Clinic and Partners Healthcare System, both in Massachusetts.

Medics from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will also be able to tap into resources from the American-based centres, Dr. Brown told a press conference yesterday.

He said the move would help restore public confidence in Bermuda's healthcare system which had eroded over a number of years.

"These reputable institutions are committed to helping us improve the quality of healthcare for all Bermudians," said the Premier.

"This immediately improves the culture of healthcare at King Edward for every Bermudian. Through targeted training and improved services, we can build new levels of public confidence in our entire healthcare system.

"Furthermore, patients who come to Kind Edward can trust that their hospital is backed by the likes of some of the finest hospitals in the world.

"Part of this visionary plan includes doctors from these partner hospitals coming to Bermuda to provide specialised care. It's easy to see the benefit of bringing one doctor to Bermuda over sending 20 Bermudian patients to Maryland or Massachusetts. The expert care Bermudians have chased around the world will soon come home to them.

"Our bold new vision for healthcare is now taking shape and Bermudians are the beneficiaries."

On the erosion of public confidence in the health system in recent years, Dr. Brown said: "Like most countries, Bermuda's healthcare system has been under pressure both from the public health fact and the ageing of the population. That puts stress on any medical system."He pointed out Bermuda's doctors come from areas including Canada, the West Indies, the UK, the US and Australia.

"There's a mosaic of medical cultures," he said. "This presents challenges in terms of management styles. This affects patient outcomes."

The Premier declined to reveal detailed information about the scheme, including its cost and whether doctors would be recruited solely to KEMH or into the private sector as well.

Health Minister Michael Scott said: "I am pleased that as Bermudians we are interested in and committed to improving the delivery of health services and to transforming our healthcare system so that everyone has access to excellent healthcare."

The Minister said key challenges included:

[bul]designing and developing new acute care facilities

[bul]strengthening the hospital's management team

[bul]providing better support for physician leaders.

"We are indeed fortunate to have the strategic support and commitment of three internationally recognised healthcare organisations with whom we will work collaboratively on these key initiatives to redevelop the hospital and strengthen clinical services and programmes," said the Minister.

Bermuda Hospitals Board chairman Herman Tucker said: "We are looking at where their support and expertise can make a difference to the clinical services we provide and the opportunities to our staff for development."