HSSD Announces Wide Ranging Cuts

Wards are closing and non
emergency off island treatment is being postponed as Guernsey's Health
and Social Services Department struggles to work within it's
budget.

The Department is also slashing weekend working hours and won't be
hiring any new staff where possible.

Staff were told of the wide ranging plans to cut spending within the
Health and Social Services Department this morning.

All of the measures will take effect from the 1st December but are only
anticipated to be in place for one month.

The situation will be looked at again in the new year, but it's already
expected to have an impact on next years waiting lists for non emergency
and non urgent treatment.

The measures include:

1. Deferring all non-emergency and non-urgent off-island treatment until
January.

2. Close a surgical ward and a theatre, and postpone all elective,
contract
surgery until January.

3. Close Divette Ward and relocate patients to other appropriate
placements.

4. Cease recruitment to vacant posts, unless the post is demonstrated to
be
essential for patient, service user or public safety, and a business
case is
approved by all Directors.

5. Minimise the use of agency staff to provide cover, and increase the
use of
bank and part-time staff wherever possible.

6. Minimise weekend overtime duties and defer weekend work to week-days
wherever this is clinically appropriate.

do you think this was the right thing to do because hssd cant control its spending..wonderful new hospital and wards are closing already..in fact HDU has never been used since the hospital revamp was opened..imo this situation is a disgrace ..hunter adam should resign immediately ..