Alderney to examine health care changes
THE States of Alderney voted to examine changes to health care provision which could see the island work to a different model to that of Guernsey.
The March States meeting saw members debate the independent review of Health and Social Care, carried out by Professor Philip Wilson of Aberdeen University, last year.
It was conducted in the wake of the Health and Social Services Department inquiry into local GP Dr Rory Lyons, who was wrongly accused of killing four of his patients. The report made 16 recommendations and one of their key suggestions was that Alderney examine how and where primary health care is delivered.
Should primary health care continue to be provided as a business, or should it be run along the lines of the National Health Service, was a question that the island needed to answer, said the report.
'Do we want to continue with competition between primary care medical practices and how do we achieve this?' summarised James Dent, chairman of Policy & Finance.
'Or do we develop services with more States control. What local services do we need and whether delivered here or in Guernsey?'
It was clear, he said, that any changed needed to be driven by Alderney.
