Withheld hospital report inches out into the open

Monday 09 August 2021

A key performance report that officials say gives a “naked” account of the hospital is due to be made “public” today – but only to a handful of people, and the media aren't allowed to attend.

The Quality and Performance Report had initially been withheld from the public, with officials citing fears that the media would "sensationalise" its findings.

The report is now due to be presented today at a meeting of the Health and Community Services Board.

While the meeting has been described as "public", only a handful of members of the public are being permitted entry, and no media.

When Express asked to attend today's public meeting, the Government said it would not be possible. When asked why this was, they declined to comment. Officials said the full report would be due for public release in the "coming weeks."

Pictured: Group Medical Director Rob Sainsbury said that media reports could put people off using health services.

Health management's concerns about releasing the report were first aired during a Public Accounts Committee hearing in June, where Group Medical Director, Rob Sainsbury claimed that media reports on its contents could put people off using the island's medical services.

"If you hear about a negative impact continuously for your service, and then that stops somebody seeking help, and seeking support, that can be really counter-productive," he said.

He later added that: "It feels that that information isn't always appropriately and proportionately then interpreted, it becomes a frontline headline that you just would not see in other jurisdictions."

Health Director General Caroline Landon also told the committee that though the Government's aim was transparency and that there was an "ongoing conversation" about publicly releasing the report, there were fears it could be "presented in a way that is sensationalised."

Pictured: Health Director General Caroline Landon told a panel that while the Government aimed to be transparent, there were fears information could be presented in a "sensationalised" way.

Following this, the Government said they would be publishing the report in 2022, citing data quality issues as a reason for the delay.

"Once we have confidence in the integrity of our data we will publish the IPR and we anticipate that will be early next year," a spokesperson said.

However, a Government spokesperson has now said that the report will be made public sooner than this, though they have not given a precise date yet. They said this will be confirmed following today's meeting.

"Health and Community Services will be presenting its Quality and Performance Report on Monday 9 August to the HCS Board," they said.

"The report will then be published in full, within the coming weeks and will include a media briefing and Q&A session with the HCS Executive."