Government health warning

The budget for temporary agency staff more than doubled last year, hitting nearly £12m.

Deputy Brouard told a Scrutiny public hearing yesterday that this figure excluded additional housing costs.

He also revealed that it costs the States ‘probably two to three times’ more to employ a temporary member of staff through an agency than a permanent member of staff directly.

‘One of the key issues we had when we took over in 2020 was staffing.

‘The major answer we had from the professionals was that we needed to provide more key worker accommodation.

‘I sit here two-and-a-half years later and I haven’t even got a spade in the ground,’ said Deputy Brouard.

He said agency staff were vital and valued, but that employing more permanent staff was desirable to control costs.

‘We need to provide accommodation for key workers. We need to provide accommodation for our permanent staff. We don’t grow enough of our own for the demands we have.

‘If I could provide the accommodation, I’d have a fighting chance.’

Deputy Brouard was asked what else his committee could do to cut costs from its £212m. revenue budget after the States recently threw out proposals to raise taxes.

‘Not very much, to be honest,’ he said.

‘There isn’t very much we could say we’re not going to do. We could stop on NICE [new] drugs – that could be one – it’s nice and simple and easy, but the uproar would be horrendous. I’m not prepared to take that at the moment.

‘As an island, we might say we don’t want to spend any more on health – until it’s your auntie or until it’s your mother – and then you do. That’s the difficulty.’

It was also revealed that nearly 1000 islanders are on lengthy waiting lists for endoscopy procedures. But plans are in place to slash waiting lists in the next few weeks.