Daily Operational Issues Impede Health Savings, Guernsey Official States

The president of Guernsey’s health committee has stated that everyday operational difficulties have obstructed efforts to achieve savings within the health sector. Deputy Al Brouard elaborated, explaining that these obstacles have “at times inhibited the ability to do all that forward work that we need to do”. His remarks came in response to inquiries in the States from Scrutiny President Yvonne Burford, who emphasized that “expenditure restraint” within health constituted a “very high priority” for the States. Burford further noted that “two years ago the assembly agreed to deliver expenditure restraint and a revised health and care model”. Addressing Deputy Burford’s concerns, the President of the Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) informed the States that Policy and Resources (P&R) had consented to augment HSC’s budget to facilitate the hiring of a health economics specialist. This development follows a revelation earlier this year that officials involved in the project to expand Guernsey’s Princess Elizabeth Hospital had not disclosed information regarding a potential £30m increase to the estimated cost of the £120m initiative. Subsequent to that disclosure, HSC commissioned a UK firm to undertake a review of the scope of the Hospital Modernisation Project Phase 2. In his address to the States, Brouard confirmed that this review had concluded and expressed that it would prove “valuable” in determining a future course of action. He stated: “We are currently clarifying a number of points so that we can find a pathway through that will deliver the facilities and benefits afforded by phase two, aligned as closely as possible with needs, expectations and budget.” He added that “The outputs of this exercise to date have been positive.” He concluded, “However, as with all major capital projects, we need to do further due diligence and we’re meeting with the Policy & Resources Committee again shortly to continue our discussions and determine next steps.”