Old-erney

Wednesday 10 July 2019

Alderney's ageing population is once again in the spotlight, with a new study showing that the island has a 0.68 dependency ratio.

That means that for every 100 people of working age (between ages 16 and 64), there were 68 older people of dependent age (aged 65 and over), which compares to a ratio of 0.31 in Guernsey.

The information was included in Health & Social Care's first Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for the Bailiwick, which detailed the need to prioritise support for people over 50. 

The project team spoke with Alderney States Members and representatives from the Connaught Care Home, Mignot Memorial Hospital and Island Medical Centre, as well as the over 50s and Age Concern day centre attendees.

Alderney's air links and medevac service are currently provided by Aurigny at a multi-million pound loss per year. 

The report highlighted concerns over a lack of emergency transfer options when no scheduled flights are operating and issues over staff recruitment and retention. 

There was also a desire for more consultants and physiotherapists to visit Alderney from Guernsey, as this would help patients who find travel difficult and reduce the expense with one person flying to Alderney rather than several people flying to Guernsey.

"In 2016, videoconferencing equipment was installed at the Mignot Memorial Hospital. This technology has proven to be useful for certain medical consultations, however its usefulness has been limited by poor reliability of the network connection, and difficulties in medical staff accessing the equipment in Guernsey," the report said. "Staff in Alderney would like to see increased use of this technology where possible so that fewer patients need to travel to Guernsey."

The top 5 projects identified for Alderney are to:

 • investigate the development of a comprehensive home care package

• investigate providing more staff accommodation or more rental properties for health and care staff

• investigate the provision of greater physiotherapy provision and support on-island

• develop video conferencing facilities to be more user friendly

• improve coordination of appointments in Guernsey

The report also concluded that the island's ability to meet demand for healthcare would have to be "closely monitored", with acute patient care increasing by 24% last year and Connaught Care Home consistently at 100% occupancy. 

Pictured top: Alderney's high street.