MORE CARE NEEDED in JERSEY

This interview with Judith is offered as part of the discussion on the current Jersey Health Department White Paper.

Judith has no axe to grind here – she appears as an impartial witness who manages a small “care” provider in the private sector and expresses her own views in this video.

We are grateful for her giving time and speaking in public.

The views that follow are not hers.

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WHO REALLY CARES IN JERSEY?

The provision of “care” is a central and dominating part of the general discussion because of the changing nature of the population and expectations of ever-improving standards.

It is also matter of concern because of ever increasing COSTS and our government, led by “scissors hands” Senator Ozouf and his Treasury team, which is embarked upon a blatant USER PAYS policy coupled with a determination to reduce expenditure throughout the States’ system.

That accountancy standards underline the whole Treasury, capitalist philosophy is obvious. There is no grand “socialist” plan to properly house, care for and educate all the people of Jersey in spite of some substantial sounding aspirations declared in various Strategic Plans etc. In fact, there is no legal obligation upon the Jersey government to house or ultimately “care for” anybody at all (as in the UK and other places).

That KPMG researched the issues and drafted the plan for the Health Department as preparation for the White Paper should serve as its own warning of the financial priorities that really underscore this agenda – although the finished report indicates otherwise.

According to the Jersey CAB website list there are about 6 privately run Nursing Homes (which must have qualified medical staff) in Jersey, including “Hospice” etc.

There are about 19 Residential Care Homes – including “Silkworth".

Another 5 are dual registered” such as the “Four Seasons” group.

CAB also lists 3 Nursing Agencies and another 5 Care Agencies.

States research carried out in 2008 indicated that there about 216 Parish provided residential bed spaces in Jersey, 168 in the voluntary sector and 292 privately provided.

(Total 676)

Nursing Home provision then was 30 (Parish) and 5 Voluntary with 188 Private

(Grand total 879)

About 120 people occupied continuing care, nursing beds at such places as “Limes”, “Sandybrook” and St Saviours Hospital etc (“Oak,” “Maple”etc).

Part of the current government agenda is to draw many “Third Sector” (including charity) providers closer within and under government control to provide many essential services. It is all part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) – User Pays philosophy but is really, primarily about reducing costs on the government purse whilst transferring any profit- making aspects into private hands.

It is all part of a plate spinning exercise to make it appear that  “health/social services” are being maintained whilst at the same time accepting less and less responsibility for providing them.

The paying/voting public has to be kept in silent awe so long as the plates continue spinning - yet knowing fully that they must inevitably crash to the floor, eventually.

Involving more and more volunteers from, and the goodwill of, so many “Third Sector” providers in this grand government scheme is all part of the cunning plan.

As the worked examples of “Roseneath” and “Silkworth” clearly demonstrates, such “Third Sector” providers will be gutted and hung out to dry almost at whim if and when they no longer satisfy government policies, prejudices or the peculiarities of political personality…

The vulnerability of the whole “care in the home” project is exposed when the non-suitability of most of the housing stock is considered coupled with the simple fact that most accommodation is rented.

Traditionally “landlords” (whether public or private) have never been keen on tenants bashing holes in walls or ceiling in order to make homes more “disability friendly” (even if the funds should be available).

Furthermore, the staff needs for looking after a person (often a single person in Jersey with no family to call upon) in their “own” home are potentially immense.

One severely disabled person can require calling upon a team of a dozen carers – where shall they be found in “population control” obsessed Jersey?

As the UK example has demonstrated time and time again, the provision of “private residential care” is a disaster zone because of repeated financial failures and it is significant and worrying that one of the largest providers in Jersey is part of a UK group with huge debts. What happens if such a large private provider closes its doors in Jersey?

Once again, following the tragic death of Ronnie Allan whilst supposedly under the care and supervision of Jersey Health services yet actually farmed out to a “private provider” – just what level of regulation now exists in Jersey and why has it been  demonstrated to be so inadequate?

Answers on a tombstone please.