Soulsby: HSC needs more money or services will be cut
THE politician in charge of Guernsey’s health services has issued a stark warning that services might need to be cut unless more funding is forthcoming.
Health & Social Care president Heidi Soulsby was giving her bi-annual general update to States members when she spoke of the huge pressure on services because of the ageing population.
A funding gap recognised by auditors is being felt, and is estimated to reach £20m. in the next eight years.
‘The debate at Budget time will be crucial, sticking to our usual approach when it comes to raising revenue and allocating it won’t work, we need to think differently about the whole financial picture of the States if we want to keep pace with the health and care needs of an ageing population, as well as working on prevention for future generations.’
Areas where preventative work is proving successful were highlighted, including free contraception for under-21s and the decrease in unwanted teenage pregnancies, the extension of the HPV vaccine to include boys, free cervical screening, and new genetic cholesterol testing.
‘All the amazing work done to lay the foundations for a better model of care could be meaningless unless the whole of this States is prepared to confront the funding challenges that lie ahead.’
People living longer means that there is an increase in demand for procedures, in particular for specialist services.
The cost of the ageing demographic on healthcare services is estimated to be £1m. per year.
Deputy Soulsby said that since her last update earlier this year there had been good progress in reducing waiting times for orthopaedic surgery with a number of on- and off-island initiatives.
‘The introduction of periodic Saturday operating lists, off-island operations through Peterborough NHS Trust, Spire Hospital Southampton, and Jersey has helped to reduce the waiting list even though we are seeing significantly increasing demand.
‘We expect added momentum over the coming months with an extra anaesthetist now on-island and additional contracts with other off-island providers.
‘A ‘short notice’ list is also being trialled where the longest waiting patients are being offered the opportunity to prepare for surgery should a last-minute slot become available.’
Deputy Soulsby voiced her support for the nurses in their campaign for equal pay for work of equal value and expressed eagerness to see a resolution to the pay dispute and the development of a fair future framework.
For the first time in many years, HSC has been successful in stabilising permanent staffing within acute services.
At the end of June 2018 there were 83 nurse vacancies within acute services, it is expected that will fall to 29 by September because of a successful recruitment drive.
