Health cuts ‘could put lives at risk’
Wednesday 22nd July 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Staff spokesman Charlie Gouyet
THE lives of up to 40 vulnerable elderly Islanders a day could be put in danger because of cutbacks at Health, the chairman of the Ambulance Association has warned.
Charlie Gouyet, who is also a leading ambulance paramedic, has spoken out following the news that Patient Transport Services could be scrapped next year.
If it happens it would mean that patients are no longer transported to day care centres where they are fed and cared for every day.
Up to 14 workers at PTS and the Grands Vaux Family Centre have been told the jobs they do are to be cut – possibly as early as January – but it is not clear if that means they will be made redundant. This sparked a minor protest at the centre this morning.
The Health Department says it will do everything possible to save jobs, but cannot guarantee that everyone from the departments will be kept on as it struggles to meet the spending demands of next year’s Business Plan.
Meanwhile, grants are also being cut from Aids charity Acet and special-needs respite home Maison Allo.
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I am a driver for patient transport services and let me make this clear, redundancies have been announced. I am to be made redundant in January 2010, this is definite so ignore the ” it is not clear if this means they will be made redundant”
Make no mistake, this will cost lives.My partner is a teaching assistant and she was recently called into a meeting and to,ld that she and 6 of her colleagues are being made redundant. And the manual workers want a £1000 pay rise?
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As well as the elderly Patient Transport Services also ensure that those with Learning Difficulties can access Le Geyt and other services including pysiotherapy and hydrotherapy. This is a vital link and the only possible outcome will be carers of vulnerable adults in the community will have no alternative but to pass the care to the States. I have been told by H&SS that providing 24/7 care in a home for my duaghter would cost £350K per annum just for staff. In addition there is the capital outlay of purchasing and adapting the property. If this was extrapolated for all the people accessing Le Geyt but are being cared for at home the cost would be in the millions per annum.
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If there was ever a clear indication that the states consider the elderly in jersey to be a threat to the economic recovery this must be it, just think in two years the elderly in jersey would no longer be a threat we would all be dead!!!
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Quite simple really; put taxes up.
Well thats the only solution. We are getting less money in at present and even less over the next 3 years to to offset this and maintain the same level of services we have grown used to we will all have to pay more income tax or GST.
Remember we are the lowest total taxing of individual people member of all OECD countries so don’t go on about we pay enough tax already!
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remember charity begins at home before sending millions to developing countries, to look good to the outside world.
i would say that , and i am sorry to say this , that we look anything but good due to the last years international reporting.
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get rid of the polititions instead would be a better idea.
What are they there for?
years ago we did,nt have or pay these self-serving politicians
the farmers did the job free and made a much better job of it.
They did it willingly for the love of the island.
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Surely some of the 44 million could be diverted from finance to actual areas which increase people’s happiness or is economic growth all our government cares about.
Getting rid of a few of the states members could free up some cash too.
Nearly a million pounds being wasted on the suspension of a “top doctor” is a disgusting waste of the peoples money. Either hire or fire him.
Agreed with David (5) we should look after ourselves before those thousands of miles away, especially as our economy is aimed at keeping the rich rich and the poor poor.
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Lets also not forget the present ‘CM’ wants a population increase to boost revenue for the States snowballing spending. The knock-on effect of this surly will make the situation worse ultimately. Or is that their scheme? Entice people of working age to the Island, tax them to the hilt, and when they become or retirement age, and possibly a burden to the States, offer no medical help / care whatsoever.
Why has the £40m gone to help the Financial Sector, who will drop
Jersey like a hot potato is things get sticky?
It looks like something between George Orwell and Logan’s Run!
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This is absolutely appalling – not only do the day care centres provide invaluable respite for careres, it also enables them to carry on working full-time which is essential these days in such an expensive Island. Maison Allo is also vital for the carers of those with special needs who otherwise would crack up under the strain of 24hr 7 dyas a week care for their loved ones.
This is another case of the CoM prioritising things that make the Island look good on the outside whilst the infrastructure is crumbling and the basic requirements which make life bearable for local people are slowly eroded.
Did we need a Singapore office for finance? Funding the ambulance service would surely be money better spent.
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Love it. Elderly at risk . What about the none elderly, like those with disabilities that are at risk. The Elderly are not the be all and end all.
The states should quit giving money to finance and areas that can make their own money and give it to the emergency services
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Absolutely ridiculous! How can the States justify making cuts that will put lives at risk?! Grrrr, they make me so angry! How about stop the hospital messing around suspending consultants for reasons they can’t justify and spend the £800,000 for the continuation of health services and the benefit of islanders? Now there’s an idea. How on earth do the States come to these decisions and how do they prioritise?
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money and services are often not managed well,a lot of money is waisted by incompidence ,but if we want to continue to receive the same services we will have to pay more,not what people want to hear but this is the only way to keep our service and not end up like in the USA going private.
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David(5). This is not about charity and the old chestnut that we should look after ourselves first. This is about our government cynically cutting social services in order to bring about the long term privatization of health and social care. Make no mistake; the rich will not be asked to pay more taxes- it might scare them off.
As in all monetarist economic models the middle class are squeezed and the poor are thrown the slops. The only good thing here is that hopefully, middle Jersey, that seems so happy to support our inept council of ministers will finally begin to see what rubbish we have been sold.
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My own personal view on this is that the States are looking for ways to save some money and will do all they can to protect big business and the rich at all costs. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the old are thought of as of no further economic benefit, as they are past their sell by date, so that they are therefore expendible. I believe that since we are now entrenched in a pounds shillings and pence world there is little room for social niceties if it costs.
I personally believe that a massive overhaul is long overdue over here. If I was in charge I would
1. Stop 1.1k tax concessions as 20 means 20.
2. Take the cap off of social security contributions so that everyone would pay 6%.
3. Start to disengage asap from finance.
4. Cull senior management in States departments as there are too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.
5. Get rid of the Constabls from the States plus the 5 unelected representatives to make savings.
6. Stop the finance centre now.
7. Reduce import/export/travel costs to Jersey.
8. Seriously look into connecting to France to cut excessive costs on this island with a tidal barrage attached.
9. Make States members and States departments accountable for mistakes.
10. Have a proper migration policy.
And other things toonumerous to mention.
Unfortunately until people wake up and get a grip we will continue down this greedy, self serving don’t give a damn, route to eventual wrack and ruin. There is no other outcome for this system in my honest opinion.
We need to wake up and realise this system is not viable; is not helping the majority of mankind; is environmentally distructive; is killing people by starvation and war; benefits the few to the expense of the majority of people and will mean the extinction of most plants and animals. In fact anyone who thinks the future world will be better if things carry on as they are must be mad in my opinion.
My own wish is that all the exploiters are put out of business before they destroy the planet.
If it means that mankind has to go to enable the planet and all its systems to survive then I would accept this outcome, as I believe the needs of the majority out way the needs of the few.
Mankind is not above everything else, this is a self made illusion and the planet can get by fine without the species known as man. Man however can’t get by without the planet and all the plants and animals. I would also say that mankind isn’t the most intelligent thing in the universe.
Hopefully this isn’t too shocking for those too ingrossed in modern day living etc to take in.
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Adrian, excellent point for all the Star Trek fans out there. In the meantime back to the debate…..
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Thanks to Adrian for his excellent contributions, however some flaws exist in his suggestions.
1. 1.1k citizens, although paying a massively reduced tax in comparison to their home country, do actually pay far more tax than locals.
2. Social security cap removed and all to pay 6% – agree entirely.
3. To disengage from finance would ensure almost immediate bankruptcy for the States. Whether we like it or not, finance ( and all peripheral business) produces the lions share of tax income for this island, plus most employment.
4. Senior management cull – long overdue.
5. Connetables should be removed from States decision making – keep to your own Parish!
6. Stopping the finance centre would not be the wisest move. Unless we can re employ every finance worker into farming or tourism on the same salary scale to cope with the high cost of living.
7. Landing fees are extremely high, so they should be reduced. Travel costs are dictated to us by travel companies who set their prices in accordance with the market. Jersey routes are not viable enough for a large number of carriers to ply their trade. Setting a maximum price would simply mean that they pull out of the island, leaving less competition and therefore even higher costs.
8. A bridge to France has been discussed many times before and remains the dream of the dreamer. With your plans to remove finance, resulting in hardly any tax revenue from the companies, those employed by the companies and the exodus of 1.1ks where would the financing come from? The strategic reserve even now probably couldn’t pay for it, plus it would have been depleted from the large welfare bill caused by the thousands of extra unemployed. Jersey would have to ask your most evil of evils – ie banks to lend them the cash – which they wouldn’t. Toll charges would have to enormous with a large and steady stream of vehicles using the route. A tidal barrage would serve no purpose other than providing the few residents with plentiful power – France would have no interest in buying sparks back from us as they are a self sufficient nuclear power generator.
9. States members and departments should be accountable, agreed, as in the private sector. The amount of waste of the years is mind numbing.,…. And the scary thing is that almost anyone can be elected into a position of having millions at their disposal!
10. Finally – yes a proper immigration system with work permits and a “stay clean” agreement for new arrivals is the only way forward.
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I think it is fair to point out that the 1.1K’s will pay less than one percent of the total expenditure of the island next year and their proportion is falling by the year as their tax is fixed while States expenditure grows massively year on year.
There must be many senior partners in accountancy and law firms that are now paying more tax than their 1.1K neighbours.
Jersey’s tax and benefit system is now verging on the ridiculous. Massive subsidies for the low paid, pensioners etc, which they need to continue living here. 20 means 20 for middle Jersey which has seen real cuts in its income and living standards. Plus the continuing negotiate your own tax for the super rich 1.1K’s.
You could not make it up and one day middle Jersey will get sick of being the cash cow that pays for this insanity.
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I have a suggestion to save money .Do we still employ the ex trading standards officer from England to stop anyone smoking where they shouldnt
when the no smoking ban came in.I havent heard much from him in the last year, as we expected most of us a law abiding people,and it was typical over reaction from the people in suits.
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If health want to save money the perhaps they should charge for prescriptions again.
They should also look at waht they pay chemist shops for dispensing the prescriptions – I believe they are currently paid more than double the UK rate.
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Spring Heeled Jack thanks for your imput. May I make the following points:-
1. Locals pay far more tax than 1.1k’s because there are more of them and 1.1k’s pay only around £100,000 which is chicken feed in relation to some of their earnings. You speculate that all 1.1k’s would leave if they had to pay more tax. I would suck it and see. I would prefer to see people in Jersey who put their shoulder to the wheel and didn’t expect an easy rid at the expense of others, it is not right, in my opinion, and Jersey could be forward thinking and set an example to others. Not everything revolves around money and it is about time for a change of ethos.
2. Agreed.
3. Jersey needs to disingage, as much as possible, as soon as possible, from finance, before it gets massive problems, in my honest opinion. Tax avoidance will eventually be done away with there can be no other choice if people want to live in a fairer world.
4. Agreed.
5. Agreed.
6. They haven’t even got one customer yet for the old abbatoire site what hope for all this extra office space if finance is going to be squeezed over the coming years? I strongly suggest making do with what accommodation is already available. Please remember near the tunnel and next to the grave yard is an empty office building, how many others are there with no tenants around town?
7. Things coming into and out of Jersey can be controlled by the States there is no need to be paying 15% plus for importing goods this is not good business sense.
8. A bridge is not out of the question it needs proper analysis. Add in a tidal barrage and there is much more chance of it suceeding. Do not dismiss the French. Why do you think the French were upset at losing the offshore reefs to Jersey in 1953? The reason was they were into tidal power at the time and were going to dam off the Bay of Mont St.Michel making a massive barrage to get electricity from. By Jersey winning the argument over ownership Jersey actually pushed the French down the nuclear option which wasn’t their first choice. Electricity will always be in demand just look to Russia to see what the EU’s fate will be if they can’t diversify into alternative energy sources.
9. Agreed.
10. Agreed.
Pip Clement I think that day is fast approaching middle Jersey is sick and tired of being taken advantage of. If I can’t negotiate my tax then I don’t see why anyone else should be given preferential treatment as I see it. I am sure most other tax payers would agree. 20 should mean 20 for all in Jersey if not abolish it for all.
I would suggest people look to history to see what happens when imbalances become too great, and no one listens to the majority. I prefer evolving to a better place over a bloody revolution any day.
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Adrian: “I would prefer to see people in Jersey who put their shoulder to the wheel and didn’t expect an easy rid[e] at the expense of others”
Jersey takes about £500m in income tax – assuming a population of 100,000 that means each person paying around £5,000 income tax. But lets ignore children and pensioners and I suspect each working person needs to contribute around £10,000.
So unless you pay that, you are taking a ride at the expense of others. Generally, at the expense of the finance industry workers you detest.
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Adie old chap, Christine Herbert wrote last weekend about the knock-on impact of the cancellation of one event, citing the IoD Dinner (and there are others). That’s one cancellation of one evening’s entertainment, impacting a myriad of businesses, from florists to hotel staff to food wholesalers taxi drivers to hairdressers etc etc. It was a pretty simple explanation of how an economy works, but I don’t think you get it. Disengage from Finance? Jersey RIP.
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mad foetus as you well know income tax is leveed as a direct proportion of earnings after a few basic allowances. If you earn above a set amount you will pay tax which increases as you earn more. Unless you are a 1.1k that is and can tell the tax department what you are going to pay which may well be a fraction of 1%! If this isn’t getting an easier ride I dn’t know what is.
I wouldn’t ignore pensioners as many are now paying tax as they get very little which they can claim against i.e children, mortgage, life insurances etc. A single pensioner can only get around £12,000 p.a. before the taxman is after them, not much to live on over here is it? This is reality for many more pensioners over here now.
To pay £10,000 tax this would mean everyone would have to be earning £60-70,000 p.a. How many earn even half this amount in Jersey?
I myself don’t think money is the be-all and end all so survive on very little compared to most. I feel it is pointless earning money just for the sake of it, especially as the system is open to manipulation by both ends. What people need to realise is that time is the most precious commodity one can have and not money.
Unfortunately most have been sucked into the consumer society of must have yesterday at all costs just to keep up with the neighbours. I view this as just a treadmill to nowhere and therefore stay clear of it as far as possible. I leave it to others to run in ever increasing speeds around the treadmill of their making.
Since I get nothing from the state and paid for my children’s education I can’t see what I am getting out of the system personally as you seem to imply. Thus I don’t need to be paying £10,000 tax do I? It is not my fault that the government wastes money on useless items like steam clocks and the likes is it? The island should be running on a lot less money than it does as far as I am concerned.
As per finance my concerns about this are moral and ethical. If others can divorce morals and ethics from their minds just so that they can earn money that is their concern, however I still view it as wrong.
I would ask the simple question what happens when the tap gets turned off? Where does Jersey get its business from then, as it is dependent on the rest of the world for its business? These are the reasons why Jersey needs to begin shifting its position before it is too late. The option of doing nothing is no longer available.
I would also ask you how you would feel if people in far away countris were affecting your standard of living by creaming off tax revenues from where you resided? Eventually I believe the world will demand the abolition of these practices.
Mike as to how an economy works I have a good idea about it. This is why I have been warning about a one business economy. Being reliant on one thing is a bit like Russian Roulette you will end up biting the bullet sooner or later. Hence as you say Jersey RIP.
I like the Monty Python sketch about Spam this reminds me of Jersey everytime I hear it. Replace Spam with the word finance and it fits in very well! Remove finance from Jersey and the whole pack of cards comes tumbling down.
Jersey at present, by being dependent on finance, is also dependent on outside participation and when the outside says enough is enough, it is the end. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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