The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
Submission of Jim Hopley received 4th November 2019
Good morning Sammy hope you are well?
Just a quick one for you to take to your Health and Social Security Panel.
Have had a number of ad-hoc conversations with two members of the Panel over the last few months. namely Deputies Pamplin and Pointon, with reference to numerous elements of the situation with Health and Community Services and in particular the new Jersey Care Model now being taken forward.
With my long-term history of involvement in the Sector where until they were disbanded some 15 months ago I sat on virtually every Board and Committee then guiding the direction of travel with the Service (Strategic Oversight, Primary Care Review, Out of Hospital et al) I have strong views and a number of current concerns. My previous involvements was as a non conflicted representative of the Voluntary Sector not as a paid officer of any specific charity but as the volunteer chair of Jersey's Disability Partnership and indeed the Cheshire Home. On a number of occasions I have met with the Health Minister and indeed one of his Assistant Ministers (Senator Steve Pallett) along with some at least of the senior officers in the Department to discuss the direction of travel and concerns across the non-commissioned parts of the Voluntary / Charitable Sector to what is proposed and how far it goes. These views I have also shared with the Social Security Minister who now also carries responsibility for the Disability Strategy (I have no idea who in Government is carrying responsibility for the parallel strand of a Carers Strategy which should also be being taken forward).
With this amassed experience and with significant concerns about not so much the philosophy behind the proposed new model but more about the ability of the island's broad health economy to deliver same along with weaknesses in the limitations on governance (the Model is essentially operational and lacks a fundamental governance structure currently to back it up) I would welcome if the Panel see fit an opportunity either in private or indeed in public to share my views and concerns. Key areas that will thwart things if not resolved rapidly are reform of the Primary Care System and the broad skills shortage across the Sector (some moves have been made to sort the Department's problems but there are currently and there will continue to be a significant lack of properly qualified and trained staff generally out there at this time which will only worsen as people age. live longer and are backed into the community for support and demand rises. An holistic plan to deal with this is what is required).
If you would be so kind as to bring this to the Panel's attention and advise I would be immensely appreciative of an opportunity to share my views if they see fit.
Many thanks in anticipation and I will await feedback.
Kind regards
Jim