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To whom it may concern,
I am one of the lucky ones, that managed to get an appointment, which led to diagnosis and subsequent access to medication for my ADHD. Sadly, due to a marriage breakdown, along with having to protect and ensure our 91-year-old stepmother was not bullies and intimidated out of the house both she and our late father had life enjoyment of.
Our dear Dad was a GP and Jersey for over 30 years, not retiring until he was over 70, out of his love for the job, and making sure his many patients, were looked after.
I think he would be turning in his grave, if he could see the state of Jersey's health service today.
It has amazed me, and speak volumes about the man, that having met Ulrich, probably the best part of a year ago when he diagnosed me as having Adhd, is the pressure he is under, as Jerseys one and only, non-private clinician who was able, to diagnose the many hundreds of people that I believe are on the waiting list.
What astounded me the most, was the ridiculous situation, where the poor man is probably having to spend most of his time writing repeat prescriptions, for the people he has already diagnosed.
I can't say I was all that surprised when a quick Google search and a few phone calls, exposed the fact that as in so many other cases, Jersey is stuck in the dark ages, and lagging way behind the majority of the more up-to-date civilised and educated world.
That being, that once somebody is diagnosed by a specialist ADHD clinician, thereafter the prescriptions can be Issued by a doctor. A professional., Like our dear late father that has gone through many years of training and education to gain their qualification.
And learning of this absurd situation, I immediately contacted Rose Benet, I believe she was an assistant health minister at the time. During our conversation, I was pleased to hear that she was aware of the situation, and was wanting Jersey to be brought up-to-date, as is the case in the UK and many other parts of the world, that being allowing GPs after diagnosis, to issue prescriptions, this could be done jointly with the main clinician being involved if there were any concerns or queries. Protection quite rightly also needs to be given to GPs, if they do not feel comfortable prescribing the medication.
Which is the case with my GP, which I totally respect, and was being rightly made out of concern for patience, as it is obviously not an area they have specialised in, as of present.
Sadly, it was my understanding on talking to the assistant minister, that I believe it was the case of her being outvoted, by I believe two other politicians.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if that decision was reached with a strong emphasis being placed on not having to find extra funding.
What a sad state Jersey has got itself in, in the 50 odd years I have lived there, it has sadly got to the stage where I have made the decision, to be away from Jersey for most of the year, only returning to catch up with family and friends.
So many islanders are suffering, many of them pensioners, who have worked and paid into the system, for some 30 or 40+ years, only to be shoved to the back of the queue, way behind in many cases, where an individual comes to the island, and if they work in virtually any part of the islands financing industry, nine times out of 10 they have the benefit of private health care, so more often than not they can arrive in Jersey on a Monday morning, make an appointment to address a medical issue , then invariably be offered a procedure or treatment within a week or two, as opposed to the appalling treatment somebody else, that more often than not will have worked and contributed to the islands healthcare system for decades, ends up having to wait years, or shell out thousands of pounds to go private.
Having received treatment under the NHS when I was in the UK recently for cellulitis, I am starting to form the opinion that the U.K.'s national health service, is probably in a better state than Jerseys.
I am more than happy being contacted, with a view to giving a fuller insight, and potential solutions to alleviate the dire state of Jersey's ADHD assessment position.
Yours despairingly, Sandy Hugh