HEALTH is refusing to change its stance on brain injury victim Myles Gavey’s rehabilitation despite being lobbied with a 2,000-plus signature petition. Minister Peter Roffey yesterday accepted the petition led by the 18-year-old’s sister, Alex, 20, but said it would do little to help.

‘I understand the feeling among the family and supporters, but I would have to say it would be impossible to look at an individual patient’s situation on the basis of a petition,’ he said.

Deputy Roffey accepted that services needed to be improved for neurological care but there was a priority order of spending and brain- injury patients were not at the top.

‘We have to look at all sort of other things,’ said Deputy Roffey.

‘We could improve services for palliative care, cancer treatment and mental health.

‘We are well aware that we could and should be saving islanders’ lives through better cancer screening and vaccinations.

‘It’s very easy to say money should be made available.

‘We would love to live in a world where money is no object when it came to patient care but the amount of health care that can be provided is limited by the amount of money made available,’ he said.

Deputy Roffey said there was a need to find money for off-island rehabilitation cases like Mr Gavey’s, but he could not see funds being made available soon.

Miss Gavey, who launched the petition on Saturday and was joined by 15 volunteers who collected 2,400 signatures in less then 24 hours, was disappointed by Deputy Roffey’s response.

‘He said he would look at it and show it to the board, but his reaction to the petition could have been better.

‘It was rubbish. He literally accepted it and it was like, ﾓsee you laterﾔ,’ she said.

Miss Gavey said her hopes that the petition would make a difference had been shaken.

‘I just don’t know what else to do, but at least we got it onto the agenda and in the media.’