Select a region
A States Member who successfully secured a Government commitment to return rehabilitation services to Samarès Ward, or an equivalent location, has said he is “deeply disappointed” by the Health Minister’s lack of engagement so far.
Senator Steve Pallett said he had had one meeting not long after the January debate but no commitment was made then by Deputy Richard Renouf and his team, and he was told the Minister would report back soon with options.
The Senator described that meeting as “quite fractious”. A second one had not revealed anything new, he added.
During the debate, Deputy Renouf also said he would invite Senator Pallett to meet the rehabilitation team and attend a meeting of the group that is overseeing a “rehabilitation improvement plan”, which is led by the Chief Nurse and Director of Improvement.
He also said he would “ensure that Senator Pallett also has all the time he needs to speak to Professor Hugh Mascie-Taylor,” who is an external consultant advising Health on its ‘quality and safety framework’.
However, the Senator said he had yet to receive any invitation, nor had he discussed any options for where rehabilitation services should be based with the Minister.
Pictured: Rehabilitation was provided at Samarès Ward in the Westmount building at Overdale until it moved to Plémont Ward at the General Hospital.
He said: “I was told to expect a meeting about options last week but nothing happened. I have not yet received an update this week but I have heard that the options are going to the Council of Ministers next week.
“I really hope the minister comes to us beforehand.”
Senator Pallet said he had sent an email to Deputy Renouf seeking an update.
The Senator added: “I’m fearful that the Minister and his team are not going to take rehabilitation back to Samarès in the period between now and when the new hospital is open.
“Perhaps he was waiting for the demolition of Overdale to be passed by the Planning Committee earlier this month, but they refused the application.”
“I am still waiting for an update from Government and, frankly, I am deeply disappointed as I was expecting news by now – not least because I and Constable Andy Jehan [who also called for services to be returned to Samarès Ward] continue to receive reports of levels of care from patients and staff, and it is not looking good.”
The quality of rehabilitation services became a major subject of contention last month in the run-up and during a debate about whether they should return to Samarès Ward at Overdale, a specialist unit which had closed in May 2020 due to its requirement for potential covid patients.
Rehabilitation services for patients needing to rebuild their lives after a stroke or head injury moved to Plémont Ward at the General Hospital.
However, Health later decided not to return rehabilitation to Overdale and keep services at Plémont.
Some patients and staff began to speak out, saying this was a retrograde step and the facilities on Plémont Ward were sub-standard.
The Government initially resisted supporting a return to Samarès Ward but changed its mind on the eve of the States sitting, saying it would support Senator Pallet’s proposition, which calls for services to be reinstated at Overdale or another suitable location as determined by the Minister.
During the debate, Deputy Renouf admitted that he and his team had “taken their eye off the ball” when it came to Samarès Ward and he apologised.
Pictured: Our Hospital project head Senator Lyndon Farnham has said that a specialist rehabilitation ward will be built at Overdale.
Earlier in that debate, Deputy Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham had given an undertaking that a specialist rehabilitation ward would be built at the new hospital.
“I want to just confirm, for the avoidance of doubt, that it is the absolute plan for there to be a dedicated rehabilitation ward as part of the new hospital complex, with more beds that were available than previously at Samarès Ward at Overdale,” he said.
“The dedicated ward would provide a setting with all of the amenities required, whatever they may be at the time, dependent of course on how treatments and medicine evolve. But that is essential.
“For example, it is planned that there will be a purpose-built gymnasium adjacent to the ward, one of a number of such facilities in the new hospital. There will be dedicated bespoke space on and adjacent to the ward, dedicated to aiding early mobilisation.
“There will be a dayroom to facilitate the mobilisation for activities and for communal meals and social contact.
“The new hospital site, unlike the current facility, will be set in an elevated and peaceful location with its own landscaped grounds and facilities, which will be purpose-built for a number of uses, including for mobilisation assistance and training, including wheelchair training outside.
“There will also be bespoke outpatient facilities for therapy input as part of the rehabilitation process. So I just wanted to confirm that is the plan.”
The Health Minister also said he would provide an update to States Members on current services at the next sitting, which begins on 1 March.
This morning, Deputy Renouf said: "Detailed options for the provision of moving rehabilitation services are being carefully considered, but the process is by its nature detailed and all potential options must be examined carefully.
"I have met with Senator Pallett to discuss rehabilitation services on two occasions since the States debate and will arrange a further meeting or meetings when the examination of options has been advanced.
"All States Members will also be updated. Health and Community Services is committed to offering the very best patient care in its rehabilitation services and all other services for patients in Jersey."
INSIDE STORY: How the Battle for Samarès Ward unfolded
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.