Local rectal cancer patients have better outcomes than in UK
A STUDY has shown that rectal cancer patients had better outcomes in Guernsey than in the UK over a five-year period.
Retired Medical Specialist Group surgeon Carol Makin, who spent more than a decade working in Guernsey after 20 years as a consultant in the UK, demonstrated the findings of her research at the recent annual conference of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, as part of efforts to recruit new surgeons and consultants to the island.
Between 2011 and 2016, 100% of patients in Guernsey had temporary stomas closed within 18 months, compared to 72% of patients in the UK.
No patient in Guernsey was readmitted within 90 days, compared to 20% of patients in the UK.
‘Having a consultant-only service results in more efficient, timely and high-quality care, so we are very fortunate to have this structure in the island,’ said Mrs Makin.
Her research also showed that patients in Guernsey with acute appendicitis underwent surgery within six hours of assessment by a surgeon, compared to 24 hours in the UK.
At the conference, Mrs Makin and other representatives of the MSG spoke to surgeons and other medical experts from around the UK and Ireland about relocating to Guernsey.
‘Demonstrating the unparalleled standard of healthcare delivered in Guernsey, particularly around colorectal cancers, is a key driver in encouraging surgeons and consultants to relocate to the island,’ she said.
‘My research highlights the exceptional work of medical staff in Guernsey and aims to communicate to potential recruits how much we appreciate their dedication to upholding the high standard of care we pride ourselves on.
‘Engaging with healthcare professionals in the UK and Ireland not only helps the MSG with recruitment but also puts us on the map and allows us to share our successes with the medical world.’
