Ministry of Health to handle care of seniors and disabled

Care of seniors and the disabled has been transferred to the Ministry of Health.

From Monday, the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) will no longer fall under the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation.

The Cabinet Office announced the move on Wednesday. A spokeswoman said: "This transfer will bring about greater synergy between the health and social programmes offered by the Government to seniors and the physically challenged, and will provide a seamless provision of services to those respective populations."

John Payne, Ministry of Health policy and programme analyst, will act as NOSPC manager for six months. He will be responsible for reviewing operations and making recommendations to the Minister regarding its scope and services.

Mr. Payne led the development of the policy and legislation for Bermuda's Senior Abuse Register Act 2008.

He also led the Ministry of Health Continuum of Care Project, which asked stakeholders in the community to identify and strategise approaches to addressing the needs of seniors and the physically challenged.

During his secondment, the Ministry will advertise to recruit a full-time manager.

Elderly woman injured in car and bus collision

A pensioner was injured in a crash between a car and a bus in Southampton.

The 82-year-old woman, from Southampton, received cuts to her right elbow and was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The accident happened at 5 p.m. on Tuesday on Middle Road, near the junction with Church Road.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said: "It appears that the bus was travelling east on Middle Road and the car was travelling in the opposite direction when the vehicles collided.

"The car received extensive front-end damage while the bus received moderate front-end damage. Inquiries into this incident are underway."

The bus driver, a 52-year-old St. George's man, was uninjured.

¦ Burglars got away with a flat screen television from a house in Pembroke.

The break-in took place at a house in Friswells Lane between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday.

A 37-inch Visio flat screen TV and a GPS system were stolen.