CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Staffing Levels
Being a reflective practitioner, I have considered the content of my report contained within the last Newsletter, which in many respects indicated some positivity, while also acknowledging disappointment in the number of posts still to be filled at the Diabetes Centre. The charity has still to finalise matters with Health & Community Services (HCS) for us to fund a health professional to deliver pro-active measures to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. As an interim measure we are seeking to employ a health professional to support those individuals who have been identified as being ‘pre diabetes’. There still exists a need to recruit a number of permanent staff to deliver services provided by the Diabetes Service, despite the Health Minister recently declaring in the media that in general terms, there was not any pressure within HCS in regard to staffing levels. I would argue that in terms of secondary care for those 4,500 Islanders who have diabetes that there exist serious staffing issues. In late 2019, as part of its request for HCS to review the staffing levels, the charity was advised that HCS would create a part time post to provide a bespoke
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psychological service for patients, but recruitment to the position has yet to be made. In the knowledge that a number of patients believed that they needed urgent support, the charity has considered the funding or part funding of services from private practice. This has since led to a recent meeting between the charity and a Director of HCS, where the offer has been made for the charity to make a financial contribution and for the latter to use its underspend for the post still to be filled, so that individuals practicing privately can provide some initial support. It is important to get this matter in perspective in that the vast majority of individuals with the condition do not require support, but many of those with Type 1 diabetes and a small nucleus of Type 2 patients who have complications do. The final draft of the Island Wide Diabetes Strategy was presented to HCS over a year ago for its consideration, prior to its submission to the Minister for his approval and thereafter, the Council of Ministers. As at 17 March, the Minister still awaited receipt of the proposed Strategy. In my view this is not acceptable. It is pleasing to see that the Retinal Screening Service (RSS) has vastly improved over the past 12 months to the extent that all of those over the age of 12 years, should have by now received an appointment to attend an examination. The charity is a member of the Diabetic Retinal Screening Group which meets twice a year. The Group receives management information on the performance of the department, which currently indicates the Service is meeting the vast majority of its pre-set targets. It is a sad reflection that the remaining aspects of the diabetes service do not appear to be so transparent, but the charity will endeavour to bring about change.
