Health minister Hunter Adam outlines plans for the wheelchair service yesterday. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0737452)

HEALTH minister Hunter Adam yesterday apologised for his department’s handling of a report about the quality of its wheelchair service.

In an unprecedented move, Deputy Adam sent a letter to the Guernsey Press admitting that previous criticism – particularly by the newspaper – had been justified.

Critical comments in relation to the wheelchair report such as ‘cover-up’ and ‘simply crassly incompetent,’ had been made, he said.

‘I accept that the handling of the wheelchair report was misjudged and, as minister, I must accept responsibility and apologise.’

The department had been criticised by Deputy Mike Hadley for releasing only an abridged version of the full report, which revealed gaps in the service, to States members.

Deputy Hadley argued that only a tiny section of the report had contained confidential information and that did not justify cutting tens of pages out of it.

Deputy Adam’s letter was sent before the minister conducted a presentation at the hospital on his department’s latest proposals to improve the wheelchair service.