Sustainable funding is the future
THE critical loss of funding suffered by Autism Guernsey which has put its children’s services under threat is a cause for concern in our community – and perversely, something of an opportunity.
The charity had a good run with BBC Children in Need funding. Although it had dropped slightly, it had kept the service afloat for eight years. New chairman David Harry rightly said immediately after the news broke that the charity needed to find more sustainable funding.
And so there have been conversations with the States. They’re still ongoing. But, as is often the case with small health charities that then grow, why is it that the States offers an autism diagnostic service for children – overstretched by relentless demand, by the way, as we reported earlier in the year – yet doesn’t offer the services that Autism Guernsey has been providing?
Where’s the joined-up thinking? That Partnership of Purpose (again)?
It’s not that government has to take on sole responsibility for all these services which have performed exceptionally for the community over the years.
But it just feels so wrong that in so many areas of health – most notably, Les Bourgs Hospice and the Cheshire Home, and there are others – something which started out under its own steam is just left to do its best, whereas if it was a States-run service, it would be treated very differently.