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4.9 Deputy A.E. Pryke of Trinity of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the provision of care beds for the elderly in the Island:
Will the Minister advise this Assembly what impact there would be on the provision of care beds for the elderly in the Island if the current U.K. health provider should cease operation due to financial difficulties?
Senator J.L. Perchard (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
There are 5 U.K. based providers of care beds for the elderly in Jersey. I suspect however that the Deputy 's question is prompted by the informed press comment regarding the financial circumstances to one of these providers. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my department has a contingency plan to manage the unexpected closure of any nursing or residential home in Jersey, be it a private provider, a charitable provider, an institution owned by Islanders or an institution owned by persons from outside the Island. This plan is based on practical and real experience which the department gained some years ago when Bon Air Nursing Home suddenly closed. Much was made of this closure at the time and it was to the department's credit that the residents were transferred to other institutions, which included directly managed services, in a seamless transfer which took account of the wishes of clients and their families. The plan includes seeking additional capacity in other institutions and would include reprioritising care within the department to ensure that such residents at risk were placed in facilities which were safe and conducive to their needs. My department maintains a positive working relationship with the Jersey Care Federation which is the body that represents many of the institutional care homes in Jersey, and would very quickly become aware of any likely closure and therefore would make the necessary preparations to invoke the plan.
- The Deputy of Trinity :
Could the Minister confirm if any financial check was done prior to any signing of
contracts with health care providers?
Senator J.L. Perchard:
I am unable to confirm as to whether any financial checks were done of the parent companies of health care providers.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire:
Do those contingency plans that the Minister has spoken of include allocating clinical beds in the hospital to people who require care beds? Do clinical beds form part of that contingency?
Senator J.L. Perchard:
Yes, they would absolutely. All nursing and residential beds would form part of the contingency.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Could the Minister confirm whether or not there is a financial viability study done before contracts are awarded to private providers?
Senator J.L. Perchard:
I thought that was the same question that the Deputy of Trinity asked. I am unable to confirm that but the previous Minister on my left advises me that there were, but I would need to check before I could give a categorical answer to the States and am prepared to do so.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire:
Given that clinical beds have recently been in short supply, are these contingency plans adequate knowing full well that the hospital has been stretched to the limit? Is a contingency plan that includes clinical beds not a contingency plan that is also stretched to the limit?
Senator J.L. Perchard:
With respect, the contingency plan is realistic. It probably would one day be found short.
- The Deputy of Trinity :
I am very surprised that no financial check might have been done. Does he think it
prudent in this day and age that there should be a financial check done?
Senator J.L. Perchard:
I refer the questioner to my exact answer.