Help us keep services up and running – HSC
HEALTH & Social Care has called for help in its efforts to manage increased pressure on its services during winter.
It has a dedicated working group that meets weekly to ensure capacity both within the hospital and community facilities is monitored closely.
The committee said that there are no current issues with capacity, but the pressures on services change daily and it remains important that everyone understands how they can help.
GP practices and the Medical Specialist Group have many appointments postponed as people feel too unwell to get there. This has a knock-on effect on clinic schedules.
Another significant problem is the effect of widespread ill-health on the hospitals in Guernsey and Alderney.
All children up to Year 4 plus islanders aged over 65 and people of any age with certain medical conditions – such as chronic lung or heart disease, kidney or liver disease, HIV, diabetes and severe obesity – are able to access a free flu vaccine.
HSC urged all relevant groups to arrange to receive the vaccine as soon as possible to help stop the spread of influenza.
More than 1,100 of its staff have received the vaccine.
‘In addition to vaccination there are other simple measures everybody can take to help to prevent the spread of flu, including always using a tissue when sneezing and putting a hand in front of your mouth when coughing, throwing away used tissues and wash hands or use a hand sanitiser,’ said Elaine Burgess, the deputy chief nurse.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
