Help needed for busy consultants
MORE consultants are required in areas under ‘unsustainable pressure’ and IT infrastructure that is not fit for purpose needs to be addressed, an independent review of adult medical services has concluded.
The Royal College of Physicians review was commissioned last year by Health & Social Care as part of the contract with the Medical Specialist Group. It happens every five years.
‘The review found that consideration should be given to additional consultant posts, particularly in the areas that are under unsustainable pressure,’ an HSC spokesman said.
‘MSG and HSC are reviewing the pathways for these services before recruitment to these roles in order to identify additional efficiencies and enhanced service user outcomes.
‘The review also found that, with regard to communication and audit, the IT infrastructure was not fit for purpose. Both HSC and Policy & Resources were well aware of this and have treated it as a priority since the beginning of this term.
‘This culminated in the recent announcement of a £1.8m. investment in upgrades, with the work already having been commenced.’
The spokesman added that the review referenced the need for adequate fiscal support – something highlighted in the States by the committee’s president, Heidi Soulsby.
‘The authors felt that to provide a safe, excellent and sustainable health service, a review of the current fiscal model would be of benefit. This is being addressed as part of the work being carried out on the Partnership of Purpose.
‘The authors concluded by reporting that “the Bailiwick has the potential to identify a whole-system approach to health care with better outcomes for patients. With such an approach, the PEH would be on course to become a centre of excellence”. Again, this aligns with the work for the Partnership of Purpose.’
HSC said is was not able to disclose the cost of this review due to commercial confidentiality.
Last week Deputy Soulsby said Guernsey could not hold back the tide of rising demand, highlighting that the UK government was committed to increasing NHS spending by 3.4% a year.
She said the committee ‘reluctantly’ accepted this year’s budget, of £115.5m., some £3m. less than the year before, but could not do that any longer.
