Health Minister Nelson Bascome has rejected claims from his Shadow Kim Young that consultants Arthur Anderson should have been kept on while their report on savings in the health service was implemented.

Mr. Bascome said three out of four of the sub-committees established to look at the report said they no longer needed the help of the Arthur Anderson Group.

The hospital still wanted the consultants' expertise so the accountancy firm was kept on to work there, he said.

Mr. Bascome accused Mrs. Young of being ill-informed when she criticised him for not giving a firm timetable for implementation, noting that some of the recommendations made by Arthur Anderson were already in place.

He told The Royal Gazette yesterday (DESK -- FRIDAY): "The Shadow Minister should have known by now that several parts of the report are already in place and she would have known this if she had been keeping up with the news.

"All but one of the sub-committees said they could move the process forward based on the information the Arthur Anderson Group left.'' Mr. Bascome added that he had no problem with tabling a copy of the 300 page report for MPs to read.

In a written reply to Parliamentary questions in the House of Assembly, Mr.

Bascome said the report estimated Government could save up to $15 million in reimbursements.

The elder care programme could be run for $6,700,000 less, and the disease management programme could save between $3.5 million and $5 million.

Mrs. Young told MPs: "It is unfortunate that the Arthur Anderson Group is no longer involved in these very important cost-saving strategies.

"They have been working intimately with the Ministry of Health over the past few years and provided excellent advice and recommendations to lower our health care budget.

"The lack of their expertise and balanced independent input into the implementation of these steps will provide a lack of continuity that will cause concern to the community who will benefit in the long run. Every week that goes by without the implementation of these cost-saving programmes means we all pay more for our care.'' HEALTH HTH