No end to this waiting list
EVERY time there is an update on waiting lists for operations in hospital, someone somewhere, normally on a forum, points out that this is not a new story. It has been like this for too long Guernsey, certainly since the pandemic.
A quick search reveals a glut of similar stories over the past few years 2022, 2021, 2020, pre-pandemic. 18 months ago the waiting list for operations was 1,400.
At that time Health & Social Care and the Medical Specialist Group said they ‘recognise the upset and frustration that waiting for an operation can cause’ and sought further understanding at an ‘unprecedented time’.
Staff were working to full capacity 'but it will take a significant period of time to work through the disruption the pandemic has created,’ they added.
Last month the waiting list stood at 2,300. It just keeps climbing. Possible mitigations including using off-island partners, using more theatre time and bed availability all prove hard to access.
Many of those 2,300 individuals will be in pain. And now we find 900 waiting for an endoscopy, and the wait for a surgical procedure can be a year. Anecdotal stories of vulnerable islanders are worrying.
We know it’s been tough times, but islanders want their health service to do better than this.
Regular updates revealing longer waiting lists each time is just creating more frustration.