Jayne Ozanne asked about the provision of a named doctor for safeguarding at the MSG and other safeguarding roles, including designated doctor and designated nurse, that have been vacant in the past 12 months.
She said that she was concerned by what she had learned from the committee’s responses.
HSC admitted that there has not been a named doctor for safeguarding at the MSG since the end of June 2024.
But safeguarding responsibilities have been managed and shared across the MSG paediatric team, and immediate cover provided by the on‑call duty paediatrician.
‘The appointment of a dedicated named doctor was discussed at various secondary healthcare contract monitoring meetings and at dedicated safeguarding meetings,’ the committee said.
‘Assurances were both sought and received that, in the absence of a named doctor for safeguarding, safeguarding duties continued to be fulfilled by the duty paediatrician and the wider paediatric team.’
Deputy Ozanne said: ‘I thought this might just have been a temporary measure while the post was being recruited.
‘I am deeply concerned to learn that the post has in effect been vacant since June 2024.
‘This is totally unacceptable, despite assurances that the duties are being fulfilled by the paediatrician team.
‘Good practice in safeguarding for any organisation requires a single point of contact, this is even more important in a healthcare setting which treats children in the most vulnerable of situations on a daily basis.
‘I would hope this will be addressed as a matter of the utmost urgency, especially given the concerns various families have publicly raised about the care they have received.’
The deputy also asked about other designated safeguarding roles left vacant. HSC said that these roles were different to named safeguarding lead roles, with ‘designated’ professionals seen as experts and strategic leaders for safeguarding.
The designated doctor role has been fulfilled by a doctor based off-island.
The post is currently being advertised but the existing postholder will remain in position until a new appointment is made.
The designated nurse position has been vacant since July 2025, but has been advertised and shortlisting completed. Interviews are scheduled for the end of the month.
The committee said that specific safeguarding roles were maintained within adult and children services, with support from the designated doctor and the independent chair of the Islands Safeguarding Partnership.
Deputy Ozanne said she was somewhat reassured by this update and hoped that appointments would be made soon.
‘I am all too familiar with the problems caused in organisations where safeguarding has not been given the importance it deserves, and where victims of abuse or systemic failures have felt unheard and unsupported.
‘This is an area of great concern to me and many others, and I hope we are able to give it the priority that it deserves so that we can ensure that all in our care are protected from harm.’
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