Out-of-island treatments ruin Health’s budget
Monday 17th November 2008, 2:29PM GMT.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES is predicting a £3.25m. overspend on part of its budget allocation this year.
Like the two previous overspends it reported in 2006 and 2007, the problem is with out-of-island placements.
Treasury and Resources ringfenced that part of the budget for 2008 because it was a persistent problem with unpredictable costs.
That means the overspend does not affect Health’s ability to continue providing on-island services because Treasury will cover the costs.
‘There are already a number of measures in place to try to keep the growth in such expenditure under effective control,’ said Health minister Hunter Adam (pictured).
‘These include multi-disciplinary panels to consider each off-island placement referral and finding the most cost-effective one, but these are nearly always complex cases that require a high level of services.
‘We are also exploring where it might be possible to provide more services on island, but this is only possible where there is a sufficient number of clients needing the same type of service.’
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This is a serious query, but what about France or even Portugal?
They have excellent facilities, especially the Portugese, and I’m sure it would be far cheaper, especially with the slight advantage of the Euro.
Just hire an aircraft to move them, the initial cost of transfer would be more of course, however long term care would be peanuts.
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One problem there Richard – communication! I would not like to be carted off to a hospital in France or Portugal where i was unable to speak the language.
What we need are some tough negotiators to iron out better packages for off island treatment. It is a tough world out there and the UK is entering a recession and will be willing to negotiate for work that is guaranteed and that they know will be paid for.
The other aspect is what kind of medical care are we unable to provide – heart and brain surgery is one area that springs to mind and perhaps some with serious mental health problems. I do know of people though who have been treated at very expensive places like the Priory for e.g. alcohol or drug abuse problems and they have come back to the island after 4-6 months and then gone straight to the pub! We need to look at how we support these people when they have completed their treatment.
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