Revolutionary plans to transform healthcare in Guernsey could see a series of ‘community hubs’ opened across the island to create a more localised service.
The States will this week debate wide-ranging plans from the Committee for Health and Social Care.
If approved it could mean care closer to where people live. The idea is that multi-skilled teams – including social care, mental health and other service professionals – will offer holistic care, while being able to draw on specialists from the centre ‘campus’, which will remain at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, with a satellite campus in Alderney.
Deputy Heidi Soulsby, President of the Committee for Health and Social Care, said: “While the current system gears investment towards acute care, community services provide vital care out of hospital for hundreds of islanders. From children’s services to care for older people and end-of-life support, the community sector plays a crucial role in supporting islanders and responding to their health and care needs.”
“The feedback received from the public and health and care professionals indicated a strong desire to build upon these foundations and ensure that this is a central aspect of future care models.”
Karen Leach, Community Health and Care service manager, said: “We have an opportunity to create services that put people at the centre of how we design and deliver care. As we all live longer due to better diagnosis and treatment of disease more care in people’s homes will be provided.”
“Our aim will be to maximise independence and our care staff will work with people using person-centred care plans to regain or sustain independence in their own homes. With earlier intervention unnecessary admissions to hospital will be reduced with more patients discharged from hospital sooner. This means less disruption to family life and people receiving care in the place of their choice.”
Last week Business Eye CI reported on another aspect of the plans which would see a special app created to give islanders digital access to healthcare when they need it.
