For the cost of the Island's health care is expected to rocket by more than 200 percent over the decade to the end of the century.

Independent Sen. Alf Oughton claimed the recent health care review task force, which reported to Government in May, had "turned up some alarming figures''.

He said: "Over this decade, health care costs will increase by some 204 percent.'' Sen Oughton added: "It will most likely be above that again in the next five years.'' And he warned that other charges -- for the cost of hospital care, doctors' visits, surgery, anasthaesia, doctors' overheads and lab costs -- could increase by more that 435 per cent in the next ten years.

He added: "That does not include the cost of overseas health care.'' Sen. Oughton was speaking as the Senate discussed an amendment to the Bermuda Hospitals Act 1970, giving new powers to hospital chiefs on the Island.

The new legislation, which has now been sent to Governor Lord Waddington for the Royal Assent, will give more power to the Bermuda Hospitals Board by removing ministerial and Government supervision in some administrative matters.

Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) said: "The board must in its own right must be able to establish or change policies and procedures in order to carry out the work of the hospitals -- this act empowers them to do that.'' The new rules mean the hospital board will no longer need ministerial approval for terms and conditions for medical staff and removes the condition that doctors can only be employed for periods of three years at a time.

The board will also now be able to axe medical staff without ministerial approval and extends the existing powers of the board to sack doctors for good cause and to vary terms and conditions.

The medical staff committees at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St.

Brendan's psychiatric hospital will also be combined.

The new law also allows for the suspension of medical and dental staff if the set scale of fees is not stuck to.