‘No quick solutions to community care’
UNPRECEDENTED demand is being put on Guernsey’s care in the community services and Health & Social Care has said that it is becoming increasingly challenging to meet islanders’ needs.
It follows the revelation that some elderly people are being left stranded in hospital for months while they wait for care in the community to become available.
Paul Watts has written to all deputies because his dad has been stuck in Carey Ward for more than 11 weeks, after he was assessed as ready to go home alongside some basic help with getting out of bed and washing.
HSC president Al Brouard said that the ageing demographic was creating operational pressures and challenges.
‘Despite the very best efforts of the teams across HSC it is becoming more and more challenging to meet the increasing and unprecedented demand for community care and the resources available to deliver these services are particularly stretched at the moment.
‘HSC’s community services team has reported an increase in people feeling that they can no longer manage with informal care alongside targeted interventions from formal providers.
‘While steps are actively being taken to try to increase capacity, this is proving to be particularly challenging.’
HSC is appealing for anyone who is looking for a job as a carer to contact them.
In the statement, Deputy Brouard attempted to offer assurances to people who were struggling without community care, but added that regrettably there were no quick solutions.
The Government Work Plan, which will be debated by politicians later this month, recommends that care in the community is prioritised, and Deputy Brouard is hopeful that this is something they can agree on.
‘It will be important for the committees to be supported by the whole Assembly to make progress on these fronts, with the necessary resources allocated to complete this work.’
One issue that has been raised by unpaid, informal carers, is that the States pays thousands of pounds towards a bed in a residential home, but none of that money could be diverted towards helping people who wish to remain in their own homes.
Deputy Brouard has promised that this was being looked into so the long-term care insurance fund could pay for community care and remove some of the inequities and inconsistencies that may limit patient choice.
Mr Watts said that deputies have responded to his email with empathy, and the new deputies have expressed surprise at the situation.
However, so far he has been given no time frame on how long it will be until his dad can come home.
‘The feedback I got from Deputy Brouard was understanding but very non-committal. They’re apologetic about the situation but said they’re trying their best. Well, I think the States needs to be more proactive.’
