Better service to follow decision on care options

PALLIATIVE care received a major boost from the States yesterday. Not only will it receive a better level of infrastructure and expertise to underpin the service, but it could also have an on-island consultant appointed.

Health minister Peter Roffey said his department had accepted an offer from Les Bourgs Hospice for it to fund a full-time palliative consultant for three years.

He was surprised that some ministers believed Health had turned down the offer and that the debate was a matter of 'either/or'.

'I thought we made it quite clear in the report that in no way were we rejecting the kind offer from Les Bourgs,' said Deputy Roffey.

'It was almost a debate on a false premise. We will help them as best we can to appoint because it's not the easiest job in the world appointing a consultant.'

Deputy Roffey said the model suggested by his department, which will cost £248,000 in the first year and £237,000 a year after, was the best they could offer because times are tight.

However, he still felt the department would be unable to pay for the consultant in three years' time.

Yesterday's decision means Guernsey will appoint a visiting consultant in palliative care supported by a telemedicine link, train three GPs to specialise in palliative care and offer support services through the appointment of lead palliative care nurse, a social worker, an occupational therapist and a clerical worker.

Deputy Jack Honeybill, chairman of the Friends of Les Bourgs, said the appointment of an on-island consultant funded by the hospice coupled with Health's model would add further to the island's already excellent provision of palliative care.

But to make it work, he felt there had to be better co-operation between the hospice and Health.

'The way the debate went today everything was brought out in the open and whatever difference there may have been between Health and Social Services and Les Bourgs will have to be ironed out.

'The relationship has improved greatly recently but it can still be better.

'We all want a better service and this combination will give us that. We are going to continue with our appointment, but we need co-operation because the whole ethos of the hospice is to care for people.'