Islander with paraplegia calls for better spinal cord injury care

Tuesday 18 January 2022

An islander diagnosed with paraplegia after a motorbike accident, who has not been able to see a specialist in four years, says the Government is “falling short” in providing for patients with spinal injuries.

Dan Clark has been prevented from seeing a consultant due to his inability to fly over to the UK, and is calling for the Government to bring one to the island for others with spinal injuries.

Mr Clark received his diagnosis seventeen years ago following a motorbike accident - after being seen at Salisbury Spinal Unit, he returned to be treated at Overdale, and was then left in the care of the GP.

He explained to Express that the injury had left him often unable to get outside due to his ill health and the pain caused by his injury.

This has meant it he has also been unable to go to appointments in the UK to see a consultant and get his spinal injury checked up on, with his condition making it "too hard" for him to get back over.

He says a consultant could come over "every year to two years" to give an "overall assessment of the body."

Mr Clark told Express he personally knew two other patients who felt similarly - one of whom he had worked with around three years ago and who made representations to the Government over the issue. He added that nothing had changed since then.

"Nothing's been done, it's getting passed to the GP, the GP doesn't know anything about spinal cord injuries, so it's like, who are we passed to then? Who's going to pick up? There's no one," he remarked.

He later added he'd be pleased "even if they could give a bit of training to the GPs over here to have a bit of knowledge" around the needs of those with spinal cord injuries.

He summed up: "I think they've fallen short of the care we should be getting given, like any spinal patient on the mainland - it's just we're getting nothing whatsoever."

Following Mr Clark's representations, Senator Kristina Moore followed up on the matter through questions at the States Assembly to the Health Minister regarding the provisions for islanders with spinal injuries.

Responding to Senator Moore's question, Deputy Richard Renouf said: "The total number of identified spinal cord injury patients is 27. They all have a range of levels of injury. Due to the small number of patients and the need for highly specialist input in the acute phase and for patients who require ongoing invasive ventilation, these patients are supported off-island in a specialist unit.

"Once patients are stabilised from their acute phase of injury, they return to Jersey where their rehabilitation needs are met on island.

"Patients with a spinal cord injury work with our team of health professionals and have a tailored rehabilitation programme to continue their recovery and to maximise their independence and abilities."

When Senator Moore followed this up to ask what ongoing rehabilitation treatment was happening, and whether the department would look into bringing a specialist over, the Minister confirmed that this was something being looked into, though did not confirm it would be virtually or in-person.

"We are planning this year to introduce an annual review with a specialist consultant from outside the island, from one of those specialist units in the UK, and that review could either take place via the specialist coming to the island or virtually, so that will be worked through over this coming year," he said.