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Jersey needs at least 50 more carers if the island is to finally resolve the ongoing problem of dozens of older patients becoming trapped in hospital while they await onward care elsewhere, according to a senior figure in the sector.
Jersey Care Federation Chair Cheryl Kenealy highlighted the continuing challenges faced by her members after the latest figures showed more than 30 patients were fit to be discharged from hospital but could not leave because of a lack of onward care arrangements.
Speaking on the Bailiwick Podcast, Health Chief Chris Bown admitted that the situation was "not good care" and spoke about the importance of the third sector, with Ms Kenealy echoing his comments and highlighting a disparity in funding between care and other sectors.
She said: "We entirely agree with the observations made by Chris Bown this week regarding the serious challenges of bed-blocking and in particular his comments around the need to engage with the care sector to find solutions.
"Our views on this matter have been clear and articulated to ministers repeatedly for some time – we can significantly help the situation, but we need funding."
LISTEN: Health's Interim Chief Officer Chris Bown opened up about the challenges the department is facing on the Bailiwick Podcast, which you can listen to above or via your favourite podcast provider.
While carers are "told repeatedly that, in Mr Bown’s own words, ‘investment’ in our sector is vital", Ms Kenealy pointed out that the sector had not received any support unlike the maritime sector, which received £300,000 in "crisis" funding earlier this year.
Work by members of the federation to bring skilled carers to Jersey to address a workforce shortage had resulted in around 50 new recruits over the past year, but a similar quantity were still required to leave the sector able to deal with patients ready to leave hospital, Ms Kenealy added.
Hiring new recruits would typically cost around £3,000 per person, the Federation has estimated – Ms Kenealy said that this was where government could support the sector.
"We aren't talking millions of pounds, it wouldn't even need to be the amount that's been given to the fishing industry," she said. "The Federation is doing everything possible, even though it has no staff and those involved are taking time out of their day-jobs and giving their time voluntarily."
Pictured: Chris Bown was appointed Interim Chief Officer of Health and Community services on a 12-month fixed-term contract after the sudden departure of Caroline Landon.
Data released by the Health Department showed that on 31 July there were 28 'delayed transfer' patients in the General Hospital with no onward placements, and three other patients who were also medically fit but needed assessment or interventions in hospital prior to leaving.
The number of delayed transfer patients recorded at the end of previous months in 2023 fluctuated from 36 to 46 between January and May inclusive, the figures showed.
It also emerged earlier this year that bed-blocking had contributed to the hospital losing £3m in private patient income last year – forcing the Treasury Minister to give the hospital an emergency bung from central coffers.
Mr Bown said: "It's just not good care, we should not be doing it and we've got to find a solution.
"It's not easy – if it was, we would have done it by now – and it's something that's faced by the UK and other jurisdictions."
Care Federation members are working to develop a new policy for those leaving hospital, including both homecare and care homes – Ms Kenealy said this would be published soon, and that she hoped that the government's focus on the topic would help bring about the required action.
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