Shameful!
Thursday 23rd July 2009, 3:00PM BST.
Jo Cummins and Mike Tomkinson, of the Alzheimer’s Society
JERSEY should be ‘ashamed of itself’ for targeting the Island’s most vulnerable in the latest round of States spending cuts, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Yesterday it was revealed that the Patient Transport Services were to be scrapped to save money, which could mean that up to 40 elderly and vulnerable Islanders might be left stranded in their homes every day.
Mike Tomkinson, chairman of the Jersey Alzheimer’s Society, is angry at the States Business Plan cutbacks. ‘I think it is appalling. We are one of the richest countries in Europe and we should be ashamed of ourselves. It seems very unkind to do this to people,’ said Mr Tomkinson. He is worried that patients and carers will be affected, especially dementia sufferers, who he says are also not getting adequate care at the moment.
Every Saturday the Alzheimer’s Society hold a day care centre at the Poplars residential home. Mr Tomkinson said that this gave carers a chance to have some respite. But if the Patient Transport Services are cut, it will mean that these vulnerable people will no longer be transported to a place where they are fed, receive medical attention and spend time with friends.
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I have been wondering what it would take to burst the bubble of denial here, we have allowed a mindset of nonsense to emerge and have come to accept the abnormal,we were such a hard working no nonsense people,frugal with our money and we slowly and insidiously have let an army of beurocrats take over by stealth, civil servants on more money than the U.S. president,just pause and think about that for a while, now we are seeing cutbacks,but for who…the rich and powerful..? no the sick and helpless, a clean plasma gasifier solution to our waste disposal that came in under £50 mill.was not even entertained so we go with something that will top £200..mill or more with extra roads etc,we moved the end of the Avenue 4 inches,£1.2 mill. money scattered like worthless confetti.Now we have people suspended on huge amounts of money because we have come to beleive nothing can be done about it or the usual B/S trotted out that whilst it is under investigation we cant move on etc..lies and nonsense,here this loud and clear WE CAN’T AFFORD THIS GARBAGE,whilst abandoning the vulnerable it is plain immoral A strong group needs to emerge and take affirmative positive action and be damned….this Government and it’s administration is flawed and failed….so despite all the excuse making and posturing…..we waste money willy nilly and tell frail people we will not be picking you up anymore..I am embarrased and disgusted.
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Apparently there is now a test that will show if you will develop alzheimers in later life.
Personally I don’t see the point in spending your life worrying about an illness that when you have it you won’t remember that you are ill.
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Hear, hear Truthseeker. The gist of all the news of late is gloom and doom, and targets the poorest, weakest, youngsters, vulnerable and sick.
Enough is enough. We have an ineffective Chief Minister, an assembly largely comprising of members who have no concept of the reality of the ordinary man in the street (although there are a handful who warrant respect), who waste and spend money on frivolous ventures.
A Group WILL be emerging very soon in an attempt to get all disillusioned members of the public together and united against all that is very wrong in this Island at present, courtesy our current CoM.
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The headline Shamefull says it all. The trouble is it is very difficult to bring anyone to account for the utter waste we have been submitted to over the last decade. Not into politics really but maybe time for party politics in Jersey now where the public have a real chance of being able to identify resposibility for bad decisions made on our behalf and bring a change to faultering goverments.
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Well our government does not seem to care about this.
The states motto – as long as we have economic growth we will be alright.
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JG (3) has got us all wondering now with the taster:
“A Group WILL be emerging very soon in an attempt to get all disillusioned members of the public together and united against all that is very wrong in this Island at present, courtesy our current CoM.”
I shall be very interested to see what unique group will appeal to ALL disillusioned members of the public.
It is very evident that disillusionment expressed on this forum ranges on a scale from Kate on the right to Adrian on the left.
I really cannot imagine all the disillusioned of Jersey singing from the same sheet.
Perhaps good old “Common Sense”, whatever that is, will be what unites them.
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Totally agree with comment 5, the states need to be more careful and more sensitive to things like this, why don’t they give up their rights to re claim their so called expenses, I bet if they were audited correctly you would find the auditors would open a can of worns and realise the money the states are claiming would be better spent on our health services….Jersey States help the people don’t deprive them….
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Truthseeker makes a solid point.
Every time the States Departments are told to cut costs, the first thing the Civil Servants do, especially those feeding at the top end of the trough, is to look after themselves and their little empires first by frightening everyone into believing that the only way for them to cut States spending is to cut services and the jobs down at the lower end of the pecking order.
It’s a case of too many chiefs and no Indians – Instead, what is needed is a more efficient culture of management. Starting with a cut in both salaries and management staff numbers. This current costly, over staffed very inefficient LAZY imported UK form of wasteful mediocre back room management has to go!
The island has been plagued long enough by an unimaginative culture of wasteful management run by losers who do nothing but whine about not having enough public money to spend on their own wasteful agendas.
The Island need open, transparent and accountable management – budgets, costs and above all expenditures, including the petty cash, should be posted up on the internet for full scrutiny – let everyone see who is getting what from whom and why!
It’s high time the management of the public sector began to realize that everyone, which includes them, is going to have to work a whole lot harder, for longer and start producing better results for a whole lot less – and do it without cutting services or raising taxes! If the current bag of chief officers are unable to step up to the plate, then perhaps its time to look around for some new blood.
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It’s the oldest trick in the book. The States Departments don’t want to cut their budgets, so they put all the stuff up for cuts that they KNOW that the States won’t cut. Then they get to keep the money.
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what a joke!
I guess they dont care about the elderly and vulnerable people! what a surprise, if it affected a member of there family they would soon care and one day all the powers that be who makes these stupid choices for the island will be elderly & vulnerable and would really need and appreicate the help of these services they are about to ditch!
I think they should all wake up to the real world or at least step in to a vulnerable persons shoes for a week and she how they like it!
Im guessing they wouldnt like it!
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Bob hits the nail on the head. Nobody from the “establishment” has proposed this. Its all just about departments empire building.
There is still a strong silo mentality in the states, a view that if a department is efficient its savings will simply be passed to an inefficient one. This story is all about political spin and has no substance.
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9. BoB If what you suggest is right and I’m sadly disposed to think you are, it makes it even more despicable that this level of cynicism is what is stooped to.The value of honor and code whilst not perhaps cool, always work,will always be valid,and we are a worse off society without them.Time to get back to values that stand the test of time..I urge everyone to call your Deputy / senator and tell them in no uncertain terms you are fed up with them playing poker with our lives…
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I ask the question why would the State pick on people like this?
I believe the answer is because these people are all but worthless in the governments eyes and are perceived to not be of any use to society any more so they are the easiest to fob off.
Sorry but this is what I feel is the reason for this. I think this is appalling to cut spending in these areas but typical of a capitalistic money first society like we have ben sucked into.
Can you imagine a States member saying to tax the 1.1k’s more and the CoM agreeing to this? Well I can’t even though it would be the morally correct thing to do, just like taking the cap off of social security to have helped stop GST being brought in.
The majority is always bottom of the pile when it comes to being looked after in my honest opinion as vested interests mustn’t be upset must they?
These are my own opinions on this matter maybe others might have different ways to combat these issues?
mad foetus so nobody from the establishment has anything to do with this then? Aren’t they running the show for our benefit? Or weren’t they elected for this purpose. As far as I am concerned the buck stops with the CoM and no one else. It is up to th CoM to make sure the money is being wisely spent and not wasted on emirebuilding and the likes.
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There is a good deal of brinkmanship here.
The old committee structure is alive and well under the shiny new ministerial hood.
Vote to cut our budget and you are voting to turn old people out of their day centre.
That will rattle a few States member’s cages and concentrate theri minds on the possible results in their seat at the next election!
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The things happening at the moment are utterly disgraceful and we should all be speaking out against it. Remember if it happens to them it may one day happen to you!
Health and Education are the two of the most important areas of government and should never be stinted on. of course that doesn’t give ministers the right to waste money so cut back on other areas and there are plenty and leave Health and education alone. The poor, old, sick and vulnerable are always attacked first! the future of the island is in jeopardy
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Perhaps I should also point ou that the proposed cuts at the Education Department hits university students hardest.
This will affect one of the most vocal sectors of Jersey society, middle class parents with ambitions for their sprogs.
The concentrated howling, moans at dinner parties etc will ensure that the Education budget will not be cut.
This idea is not James Reed’s but the property of the Svengalis that run Education!
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I blame the J cats I think but then agin…..
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Not all university students have middle class, vocal parents.
The States are relying on the fact that the most vulnerable and those who take care of them are the least vocal.
We are always hearing and reading about children making trouble on the streets and now we are taking away some youth services.
Someone has to pay for repaying greedy people who invest their money hoping to make a profit and then cry when they lose their money and want the government to pay them. Tough I say.
I know personally that cuts to the more vulnerable members of society are being made throughout the UK, by a Labour government of all people. Someone has to pay for bailing out the Banks!
What a world!
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Society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable.
Let them eat cake!
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I find it incredible that this could even be suggested!! The states are happy to spend stupid amounts of money on new buildings that wont be used etc but are going to refuse money to those who are in need of it! Some of whom fought to keep this island here, so that the states memebers could have a job and turn round and say “Actually, cheers for fighting for our island but now your old and cant do much we’ll just let you rot in your little flat with no one to talk to!” How bl**dy dispicable. Who ever suggested this!!
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#18 Barbara, I totally agree. There was mention of taking money from a charity that helped people learn parenting skills! There are cheaper ways to reduce youth crime than employing more Police and more bureaucrats, if only the States could see that. As for how Jersey is treating the old, it’s the same everywhere, but that doesn’t make it any easier to take.
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