Deputy Oswald Expresses Concerns Over Paediatrician Recruitment & Calls for Reconciliation in Health Service
Deputy Oswald voiced significant concerns about the future of paediatric services in Guernsey, linking recent political decisions to potential difficulties in recruiting paediatricians. He stated he feared the States’ rejection of a recommendation to suspend Deputy Gavin St Pier would have lasting negative consequences, keeping him “awake at night.” He believes campaigning against paediatric and safeguarding services, led by Deputy St Pier, has already contributed to the loss of four paediatricians and could deter future applicants. He worries potential recruits may be hesitant to risk their careers due to perceived political oversight.
He stressed the importance of avoiding reliance on locum and agency paediatricians, stating this is “not the answer to our problems,” and expressed hope the paediatric service would not “fall apart.”
Despite voting in favour of Deputy St Pier’s suspension – a position not shared by two members of his own committee – Deputy Oswald acknowledged the need for reconciliation. He highlighted his previous work on a code of practice for off-island medical advice, halted by recent events, and pledged that his leadership of HSC would prioritize bridge-building between families, the medical profession, and the States.
Deputy oswald also discussed broader improvements to the health service, believing a less adversarial complaints procedure would benefit both patients and doctors.He acknowledged existing barriers to complaint resolution, mirroring issues faced within the National Health Service. He noted the inherent defensiveness in medical complaints due to the stakes involved - reputations and financial settlements.
While he doesn’t advocate for a full autonomous review of the health service,he remains open to external advice on locally developed practices and procedures. He concluded that utilizing all available resources offers a path forward, but cautioned that improvements “won’t be an overnight fix.”
