Ending the bed crisis must be top priority

The first is that it is necessary at all. No one, after all, wants to spend a moment longer in hospital than necessary, no matter how excellent the care they might be receiving.

Yet managers there are aware of ‘many’ inpatients who are bed blocking – our words – because they are too nervous to leave and accept responsibility for their own care. Or else there is no suitable or affordable care or residential home available for them following discharge.

The second is that the hospital bed shortage has not been triggered by a Covid-19 crisis or other serious outbreak. Yes, this week’s ‘home first’ plea has been caused by what are termed emergency admissions, but these are largely routine.

Mental health, pneumonia, as in respiratory issues, cardiac problems, stroke and admissions as a result of falls at home, urinary tract infections or frailty are potentially serious for the individual but to be expected in Guernsey with its ageing population.

Despite this, at least 13 patients remain at the PEH awaiting different care packages or more affordable care home accommodation.

This is looking like a systemic breakdown which, in turn, means the critical care unit is at capacity and operations are being cancelled.

Almost daily, it seems, under-investment in critical services is highlighted while, until the October general election at least, government was pursuing nice-to-have policies in non-essential areas.

The PEH modernisation process has, thankfully, started but few islanders will have been aware of just how urgent its completion really is or how wide-ranging the beds crisis has become.

Islanders need to be able to rely on government doing the right things at the right time, but that confidence is being eroded on a too-frequent basis.

The PEH cannot meet today’s demand, let alone be fit for the future with an ageing population. Putting that right is an absolute priority.