I am beyond words - other than these of course! Furious... doesnt even touch the sides! Headline of the GP today Dementia Home Appeal thrown out by Tribunal PLEASE IF YOU AGREE SHOUT - AND LOUD! here is my letter to the Guernsey Press today: Dear Sir I have a heavy heart – I have been given the news on the phone that the Appeal lodged against the refusal for planning to enable the Ex Greenacres to be turned into a Specialist Home for Dementia has failed. What a total travesty! I am appalled – I have no vested interest in the business side of this at all – I merely have a mother with severe Alzheimer’s who is currently in Maison de Quetteville – and very well looked after she is too – with expert care. I worry for the future. I have already written on these pages my views about the need for another home… so I just want to underline that one more time. Greenacres as a ‘hotel’ is NOT viable currently, and hasn’t been viable for a couple of years – the only way to ‘make’ it viable would be to spend millions on it and that is simply not going to happen. We heard at the Appeal that the proposed home was going to employ about 50 people and wages alone would have been about £1 million a year. Having been at the hearing and listened to the Convenor rip holes in the States departments arguments I am totally speechless that the decision should go against the Dr’s – they fully admitted they were no experts, but here’s the rub - the Convenor was very plain speaking about the fact that some of the decisions/actions made by the Departments were less than professional too. This decision will see the fight continue from those of us who passionately believe that it was the wrong decision, and the building, will sit there rotting away. The current owners will not refurbish it so this has consigned it to the scrap heap – also leaving it open to vandalism. This plan by the Dr’s was a golden opportunity for the States to SAVE a huge amount of money but also ensure that looking forward Dementia care is being proactively considered and catered for. All the statistics show Dementia is on the rise and I will say it once more ‘Dementia patients should not be cared for in the same environment as gently aging people” It is not safe/healthy for either party. Soon the health service will be swamped by Dementia patients and it wont take long – then the HSSD will say they cannot cope and that it is a cause of further overspend - it will be too late by then – why oh why cant they just admit this facility is NECESSARY and we NEED it now! What is currently provided in Guernsey by many people’s admission is woefully inadequate in quantity and in some cases quality too. Here are some facts: 1. There are 800,000 people diagnosed with dementia in the UK (2012) this does not take into account the many that go undiagnosed. 2. 17,000 of them are under 65 (2012) 3. It is predicted there will be 1 million by 2021 Will YOU be one of these stats? Will you get Dementia? Ask yourself ……..where would you want to be cared for? I know my answer! Here is my simple question for Environment and Commerce and Employment – Please will you reverse the decision? Otherwise the building WILL be left to rot and become more of an eyesore than it is currently - do we Islanders want that? Can I also urge others who share my views to ask their deputies to lobby to get this decision reversed. I will not go away…..this is far too important – the future heath and well being of our Island is far too important. Kind regards Sarah Griffith MBE
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 08:48:32 +0000
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