Nov 19 - GSD Healthcare Reforms Aim To Create More Efficient Service
The GSD has published a “prudent, pragmatic and realistic” health policy as part of their campaign for the upcoming elections.
At a meeting held at the GSD headquarters earlier today, Marlene Hassan-Nahon said the GSD is proud of its track record in health.
She said: “In the 16 years we were in administration, we built a wonderful new hospital, we revamped the sponsored patients scheme and we ended the wild west of private medicine.
“If we get back into administration, we will continue to build on these foundations and the success story that was the health ministry under the GSD.”
GSD leader Daniel Feetham said: “When you are in administration, it is always a question of priorities and always a question of how best to use resources that the government has at its disposal.
“It’s no different to any family home, the running of public finances – you have your budget and you have your priorities.
“We see, for example, more doctors at the Primary Care Centre or in the hospital as the right priority over increasing travelling and entertainment at No6 Convent Place from £400,000 when Sir Peter was there to over £1.2million this year.
“Imagine how many doctors you could employ in a year with the difference between £1.2million and £400,000?
“You could employ a number of doctors and deal with what is a very concerning issue and a very serious issue for many people who have got to go to the Primary Care Centre and use it every week or the accident and emergency department, where the queues are, quite frankly, monstruous.”
After having worked with professionals, users and specialists in the field, the GSD has outlined the six main target areas for their health policy which they are looking forward to implementing if they come into office.
These are: new services and patient care, enhanced communication, protocol, structure, cost efficiency and mental health.
Enhanced Communication
The GSD says that at the moment there isn’t enough communication between the Primary Care Centre and the hospital, which leads to a decline in health care and the quality of services. They will make the GP paramount in all communication, following the NHS model, and believe this is a key component for everything to work smoothly.
Cost Efficiency
The GSD will look at implementing a tender system for pharmaceuticals. After carrying out a review and finding a 5% increase in the price of pharmaceuticals, the GSD will promote the use of generic pharmaceuticals. To help their cost-efficient strategy for the health service, they will also hire a team of people to source these medications at a cheaper price.
Primary Care Centre
The GSD says the GSLP-Liberal administration have put a very inflexible system in place at the Primary Care Centre, which caused a lot of aggravation for people and was not fit for purpose. Ms Hassan-Nahon welcomes the new appointment system, but says she hopes it is not just an election gimmick put forward “at the eleventh hour” just before the election.
Doctors
The GSD hopes to employ more specialist doctors in the hospital, including an anesthetist, an obstetrician, and a general surgeon to keep up with demand.
Patient List
This needs to be cleaned and updated on the GHA IT system.
Chemotherapy
The GSD welcomes the Government’s initiative in bringing Chemotherapy to Gibraltar, but hopes that the services offered are the ones that are well-utilised in Gibraltar.
Mental Health
The GSD is committed to supported housing and supported employment, to integrate patients back into society and provide them with the care and confidence that they need for independent living.
Young Adults
Paediatric nurses will be employed at schools and will help youngsters with any issues. The GSD believes this will help to clear the backlog of patients in the Primary Care Centre. They will also deal with family planning and any sexually transmitted disease in schools by providing information and education in schools in a more dignified and supportive manner.
Repeat Prescriptions
The GSD want to bring this service in line with the UK’s NHS where doctors will hand out prescriptions for six months which can be collected from the administration staff, and will free up doctor appointments.
Sports Clinic
The GSD is also committed to offering a sports injury clinic.
{fcomment}
