Minister given two-month deadline to examine radiotherapy plan

Tuesday 08 February 2022

States Members have agreed that the Health Minister should fully investigate the “options” for a local radiotherapy unit and produce a full report for consideration by April 2022.

Deputy Montfort Tadier had originally sought the 'in principle' approval of States Members for a Jersey-based radiotherapy unit, negating the need for islanders to travel to Southampton for cancer care. But he accepted an amendment from Deputy Richard Renouf which stated the creation of a local unit would be subject to the review.

The proposition from the St. Brelade’s representative was designed to put into effect the request of an official petition launched on 2 November by cancer survivor Rose Shepherd, which attracted just over 3,000 signatures.

Introducing his proposal in the States Assembly meeting, Deputy Tadier shared the experience of two patients.

The first testimony came from an islander diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, who explained how travelling back and forth for her treatment had been “very tiring”. She said that despite being in relatively good health, by the end of her nine-day treatment, she was so exhausted she had needed assistance at Southampton Airport and wondered how people in bad health could be dealing with this.

The second account was from the sister of an islander who was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 2015.

Pictured: Rose Shepherd launched a petition for a local radiotherapy unit last year.

Having travelled with her several times during her treatment, the woman said that while the staff had been fantastic, travelling had had “quite a detrimental effect” on her sister. She said being in a hotel had been “upsetting” and that her sister had sometimes gone without eating because she couldn’t face having a meal in a restaurant.

Urging members to support his proposition, Deputy Tadier said that several islanders had asked “why on earth” a radiotherapy unit was not included in the “all-singing, all-dancing hospital with a price tag of £800m”.

Deputy Steve Luce, who explained he had personal experience of travelling to the UK with his late wife for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments, said that describing this type of travel as "challenging" was a “massive understatement”, especially when travelling through the larger airports in London, and something “able-bodied people” take for granted.

“We all want to be closer to home, to be closer to family and the surroundings we know so well,” he said. “While it might be nice not to endure plane flights, in my view and in the main, that’s where the nicety stops.”

He questioned how many machines and how much staff would be required and said that while Deputy Tadier’s proposition was a “wonderful idea on paper” it wasn’t the answer

“As awful as travel and being separated from family when you feel so down is… surely we want our islanders to have the best treatment in the very best hospitals,” he concluded saying he wouldn’t support the proposition.

The Constable of St. Peter, Richard Vibert, said his late wife had received excellent care in the UK and that he had been “lucky” to support her throughout her five-week treatment.

He however said they had often thought about those who were on their own, explaining that, as his wife got weaker as the treatment went on, he had to help her get in and out of the car.

He said that it was important for patients to receive treatment as soon as possible, noting that his wife’s treatment had got delayed by some months reducing the chances of successful treatment.

He said the island shouldn’t consider the cost but all the benefits and urged States Members to support the proposal, saying it would increase the chances of a successful outcome for patients.

Senator Sarah Ferguson suggested the issue should go on the back burner and be revisited “when we have other things sorted”.

The Minister for Health & Social Services is proposing an amendment to the proposition: rather than agree to an on-Island Radiotherapy Unit in principle, the Minister will propose options, including an off-Island alternative, to the Assembly before April: https://t.co/IRDXD8K4ZG https://t.co/kUsIaXtOfZ

— States Assembly - Jersey's elected parliament (@StatesAssembly) February 8, 2022

The Health Minister said he would be supporting his amended version of the proposition, as it would support investigations his department was currently carrying out. He said supporting it would not mean “firm decisions taken one way or another”, but rather acknowledge that many islanders would wish to have a local radiotherapy unit.

“We all acknowledge it would be preferrable if we could avoid all of those but we must put patients outcome first and foremost,” he said.

Deput Mike Higgins, who said he had himself travelled for cancer treatment and thus could see the problems associated with it, reminded Members that supporting the proposition meant approving an “information-gathering exercise” and said he hoped not one would object to it, describing it as a “no brainer".

The Constable of St. John, Andy Jehan, said he had seen patients in “all kinds of conditions” when travelling to Southampton regularly for work.

He raised concerns with the fact the Health Minister had not asked for more time to present a full business case for a radiotherapy unit, nothing the Health Department was already “under pressure” with 353 vacancies at the latest count.

Deputy Rowland Huelin said he welcomed the initiative so that the Assembly could make informed decision but called for the Health Minister to look at ways to improve patients’ experience, such as allowing partners, improving accommodation, and providing return flights at weekends.

Concluding the debate ahead of the vote, Deputy Tadier said cancer was here to stay and that the island needed to think about how to best cater for people on-island. He said he believed a radiotheraphy unit should be part of the Jersey Care Model and that the proposition would give the minister a signal that this is something they would like “unless there are compelling reasons”.

The proposition was adopted with 40 votes in favour and one against.