Jersey’s Care Sector Calls for Urgent Extension of PPE to Protect Vulnerable Citizens

The Jersey Care Federation (JCF) are calling on the Government of Jersey (GoJ) to extend their provision of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for carers beyond the end of January 2023. GoJ began supplying additional PPE to the care sector during the pandemic when there were global shortages of essential items such as surgical masks and visors. This provision is due to cease at the end of this month.

Following consultation with its members, the JCF have asked GoJ at a meeting this week to extend this PPE provision, to enable the care sector to safely transition to a new solution, without risking the health of vulnerable people.

Cheryl Kenealy, Chairperson for the JCF, commented:

‘The provision of additional PPE during the peak of the pandemic was something that GoJ got absolutely right. Their fast action and investment during this time enabled our members to be able to safely provide care to those who needed it most. While we understand that PPE support needs to end some time, we do not believe that time is now. For one, the GoJ guidelines for carers to use PPE still remain in place – if they still believe PPE is needed, why would they stop providing the appropriate equipment?

Our concern is that with spiralling costs in every area of business, that without PPE being provided some providers will cease to follow the guidelines, exposing our whole community to risk. While the worst of the pandemic has passed, we are struggling with various bacterial and viral infection this winter, including ongoing COVID risks.

Alternatively, some providers who do wish to follow the guidelines will have to put up their prices to clients to pay for PPE, again, after a year where prices have already gone up several times for many.

Ceasing PPE support would also mean that providers will begin to bid against each other for supplies, rather than it being purchased for the island centrally, meaning overall, our community will paying more than it should to remain safe.

In our opinion, none of these outcomes is acceptable, and this change would represent a false economy that would put people’s health at risk. We want people to continue to feel safe and assured that if they are vulnerable they will not be exposed to more risk. We also want our amazing carers to feel protected at work.

Ideally we would like to see PPE provision extended for another 6 months to see us safely through winter, and for GoJ to provide us with some initial funding to allow us to create a centralised PPE subscription model for our members. We have been assured that GoJ is listening to our concerns and that care is a priority, so we are hopeful that they will take action on this issue.’