Health needs to be central, not an afterthought

No one was clapping or banging pots and pans yesterday as the Bailiff called the two nominees for president of HSC to the bench.

For it was clear that, for one candidate, the job was an afterthought when he failed to win the job he really wanted. The other felt that someone better should have stepped up to the plate.

After the Covid year from hell, health workers deserve so much more. They deserve a champion, someone passionate and knowledgeable about the role. Someone with the enthusiasm needed to pour energy into the second biggest job in island politics.

Instead, they got an excruciating 50 minutes of vague promises and off-the-cuff policy from candidates with no real understanding of the issues.

But at least they were willing to give it a go. Only civic responsibility drove Deputy Al Brouard to have an unwanted nomination foisted on him.

He has promised to do his absolute best and, apart from writing a better speech, not much more could be asked.

As he did so, deputies new and old looked at their shoes. Many had made great play in their manifestos on how this year of all years the island had seen the importance of healthcare. Half became ‘nursing champions’.

Yet when it came to making that count. Nothing.

Part of the problem is clearly trust. Health is a massive department responsible for a third of the States budget.

With Covid, an ageing population, a huge build programme, nurses fighting for more pay and an uneasy relationship with GPs and specialists, the problems awaiting the HSC president are legion.

But that should excite a candidate, not daunt them. Instead, Deputy Brouard made it clear he feared being the fall guy, left without staff or funds to have a chance of success. He put deputies on notice that they shared responsibility.

HSC presidents – and chief officers – used to topple like ninepins, either through resignation or removal.

If there is as little thought being put into health as this presidency would indicate, Deputy Brouard is right to be wary.