Jersey's health service woes continue

Jersey's health service has faced intense scrutiny over the last few months

As Jersey’s health board convened for its final meeting of the summer, the panel of experts tasked with driving up standards in health had a long list of things to discuss.

A highly critical review of the rheumatology department by the Royal College of Physicians was published in January and it highlighted how some patients were misdiagnosed or given the wrong medication.

On Monday, Patrick Armstrong the medical director said the deaths of 20 patients were being referred to the Viscount over concerns that failures in care had contributed to their deaths.

Two independent reviews into radiology were made public last week, and now an independent review into the island’s neurology department has been made an urgent priority. The scrutiny and focus on Jersey’s health department shows little sign of letting up

'A different service'

The initial findings around Jersey’s rheumatology service made disturbing reading for anyone involved in health and for islanders more widely, but the news that 20 deaths had been referred to the Viscount means that difficult, searching questions will continue to be asked over the coming months.

But at the health board meeting, the focus was very much on how things were improving.

Chris Bown, the Chief officer of Health and Community services told me that “the rheumatology service is a different service now.”

At the meeting there was emphasis on how a specialist pharmacist had been appointed to oversee the dispensing of biologic drugs (drugs that control inflammation but suppress the immune system).

The independent review had previously highlighted these had been given to people who did not need them.

Health leaders told the board that record keeping and staffing had also been improved.

Chris Bown, the Chief officer at Health and Community services said improvements have been made to the rheumatology service

While Jersey’s senior health team can point to changes being implemented, it was unlikely the pressure will ease, especially as the radiology department had also come under the spotlight.

Concerns emerged last month around the practice of one radiologist and 20 women were contacted because there were fears they had been given false negative results after a breast cancer screening.

Two independent reviews were made public last week and 16 of the 20 women were given the all clear, three were sent for further tests and one was diagnosed with cancer.

Both the Royal college of Radiologists review (RCR) and British Society of Breast Radiologists review (BSRB) highlighted how failings in management and issues around work culture meant that the concerns were not attended to as quickly as they should have been.

'Frustrated'

When I spoke to Deputy Tom Binet, the health minister about the issues in radiology, he said “the problems had been fixed or were being fixed.”

When asked about how the problems had been fixed he was not able to give any detail, he became defensive, told me I was trying to "make things look bad" and eventually walked out the interview.

The pressure of overseeing the most scrutinised government department is clearly getting to the health minister, who has cut an increasingly irritated and frustrated figure.

When Prof Simon Mackenzie, a former health leader who led a team responsible for making changes in the hospital said, “knowing what I know, if I were a Jersey resident, I would seek to get healthcare elsewhere” the health minister responded by saying those comments were “unhelpful” as they “lowered morale.”

Deputy Tom Binet, the health minister, has cut an increasingly frustrated figure as scrutiny of the Jersey's health service intensifies

Most States Assembly meetings this year have seen the health minister face tough, challenging questions and when the States Assembly resumes in September it is likely he will now also face questions on neurology.

Neurology is the department that deals with disorders and diseases of the nervous system.

The board papers, which the health advisory board read before their meetings, highlighted how there were ongoing concerns about the service, and while the details of those concerns have not been made public, the news of another review will likely lead to more islanders questioning the reliability of their health service.

Many of the problems highlighted in the independent reviews of radiology and rheumatology did not happen under the health minister’s watch but he will be judged on how he responds to the findings and criticisms, something he has so far struggled to do in a way that instills confidence.