Cover-up is simply not acceptable

Thursday 26th February 2009, 2:47PM GMT.

IN today’s Guernsey Press – and on This is Guernsey – we report serious allegations that members of the Health and Social Services Department attempted to mislead deputies by presenting them with a heavily sanitised version of a critical report on the Bailiwick’s wheelchair service.

For anyone who compares the 12-page abstract with the detail of the comprehensive and painstaking full document, it is clear that what HSSD chose to release paints a completely different picture from the proper report.

The current service is unacceptable – and that’s according to the department’s own staff attempting to do their best for wheelchair users under a system that is not fit for purpose and which does not meet relevant NHS standards.

Whether the HSSD was attempting to cover up the truth, mislead States members or is simply crassly incompetent at providing an accurate precis is something it will have to answer – although islanders will not be slow in drawing their own conclusions.

What is even more disturbing for electors and taxpayers who delegate responsibility and trust for the efficient delivery of such services to the department is the ‘reason’ it gave to try to justify covering up the real report. Claiming that they did so because it might be possible to identify individuals from it is just not believable because (even if true and the individuals’ permission had not been obtained), it was so easy to work around without losing the essential criticisms, recommendations and conclusions of the lead author.

In other words, the department has tried to quash findings its own management has to accept at least some responsibility for, when it should be congratulating senior occupational therapist Alice Flower for doing such a thorough job of work, drawing serious deficiencies to the political board’s attention and providing clear options for improving things.

Such behaviour cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged, although the Scrutiny Committee chairman would be conflicted as deputy Health minister.

This is not the first sign of malaise within the HSSD. But if things are to get better, management and its board have to be open about what needs changing and stop trying to cover up uncomfortable truths.

1
Stephen John

February 26, 2009 at 4:07 pm

You ask whether there is an intent to mislead, cover up or incompetence.

The answer is probably all three.

Those with a long memory will recall the Welsh Audit Office revelation that a HSSD officer had told the WAO inquiry that the job of carrying out financial evaluations was not their job.

The WAO stated that they had to point out to the HSSD that the HSSD and its officials were not aware that the States’ Tendering Procedures. The WAO also stressed that the procedures made it clear that it was the job of the HSSD to make the financial inquiries.

Incompetence is usually followed by cover up and attempts to mislead.

It is clear that the writer of the the headline article believes the summary of the report on the wheelchair service misleads.

It will be a test of the political skills of Deputy Brehaut in dealing with this isue, whatever hat he wears.

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2
Stephen John

February 27, 2009 at 4:06 pm

The Guernsey Press Comment of today 27 February seems to confirm that all three of mislead, cover up and incompetence, are still present.

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