Tuesday 03 January 2023
Following the recent P&R announcement to seek outline permission to develop much needed key worker housing on the PEH campus, HSC President Deputy Brouard, on behalf of the majority of his Committee, has spoken out in support of the plans.
Deputy Brouard said:
'The field on the PEH campus identified for key-worker housing was always destined to become part of the PEH infrastructure at some point - be it clinical/operational areas, office accommodation or key worker housing.
HSC is experiencing significant recruitment and retention problems. While this is a multi-faceted and complex area, recruitment and retention is undoubtedly exacerbated by a range of housing issues relating to the affordability, availability and suitability of accommodation for key workers.
This is a wholly unsustainable position if HSC is to continue to offer the range of services that are currently available on-Island.'
Data obtained in October of this year evidenced an immediate waiting list for 71 one bed and 34 two bed units with self-contained facilities for staff who are currently living in private sector accommodation unsuitable for their needs or in other States of Guernsey accommodation who would prefer a self-contained unit. New starters do not feature on the waiting list and some staff groups are not presently eligible for key worker accommodation.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, HSC Member said:
'I have seen a large number of comments in response to the P&R proposals stating that accommodation does not need to be near the hospital for our key workers. This is absolutely not the case.
The vast majority of staff, when requesting staff accommodation, stipulate that they wish to be as close to their workplace as possible. Whilst it is difficult to believe on an island the size of Guernsey, staff do frequently raise concerns about the length of commute from home to work which are valid if they do not have their own transport as shift times do not always align with bus timetables and routes. Accommodation which is two miles from your workplace may not seem an issue, but if you are on-call it can make a great deal of difference and walking home in the dark at the end of a shift with limited street lighting and no buses really brings location into focus.
I would like to add that the States has been criticised for offering those coming to work from off-island a better deal in terms of subsidised accommodation because that is not offered to local staff. We would like to square that circle by having enough key worker units to be able to offer accommodation to locals and license holders alike. We realise that there's a pool of potential key workers already amongst our population that would be interested to coming to work for HSC if they were offered subsidised, quality accommodation along with the job. There will be situations such as where young people are living with mum and dad but would consider working for HSC if we could provide them with good quality housing and the chance of living independently that they could otherwise not afford. This is currently a pipe dream, but it is something that we must strive towards if we are to make working for HSC as attractive as possible for locals and those from off-island alike'
Pressure on HSC for staff accommodation has increased significantly over the last 12-18 months and this is impacting on service delivery. Our professional recruitment team is reporting that recruitment agencies used by HSC to source permanent staff identify that they are no longer referring applicants to Guernsey, in the knowledge that they will not be able to access suitable accommodation should they be successful. This is further reinforced by the experience of our staff and other prospective staff, who are struggling to find suitable accommodation.
Deputy Brouard concluded by saying:
'We have difficult choices to make in this current political and financial climate. I understand people have very strong views about building in certain locations across the island.
However, from an HSC position, the choice is a simple one. We urgently need units of key worker accommodation. We must support our existing and future staff by providing suitable units of accommodation. If we cannot get the staff we need because of a lack of suitable accommodation, then more difficult conversations will need to be had about the services we provide and, more importantly, which ones we will have to stop providing.
We have a field available on the PEH campus that is suitable for accommodation that we can use and for that reason I, and the majority of the HSC Committee, fully support the plans submitted by my P&R colleagues.
I am a little frustrated that this particular small area of land on the PEH campus is singled out to complain about when little heed is given by the same people to other development sites all over the Island including ex-vinery and fields which also become housing.
Please do write in to the Development and Planning Authority at Frossard House to offer your support for much needed Health and Care Staff accommodation.'
