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WQ.420/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2020
Question
Does the Minister receive direct reports on how current waiting lists within his Department impact on patients, including instances in which patients have had to stop driving or sell their property whilst waiting for an operation or procedure, or where new patients cannot be seen because of a shortage of staff; and what action, if any, does he propose to take to reduce the waiting lists and to ensure that service-delivery does not negatively impact on patients in the way described?
Answer
Waiting list information is now publicly available. Exceptionally, individual cases may be referred to the Minister who then seeks appropriate advice on the priority given to a patient. HCS is working hard to address waiting list challenges which have also been inevitably impacted by the Pandemic, as has been the case elsewhere and particularly within the UK healthcare system.
Actions we are taking include:
• Improving theatre utilisation to ensure all available capacity is used
• Increasing Day Surgery activity
• Continuing virtual appointments as much as possible
• Improving pre-admission screening processes
• Targeted and timely recruitment to specialist areas
• Adapting to social distancing and patient screening requirements as a result of the Pandemic.