Guernsey residents to pay more to access residential care
Changes to how long-term care is funded in Guernsey aimed at stabilising and encouraging growth in the private care home market have been approved by States members.Over the next 15 years the number of people over the age of 85 is expected to more than double in Guernsey with more than 130 new care home beds needed by 2030.Currently islanders qualify for long-term care benefit and respite care benefit if they have been resident for five years, but this will be increased to 20 years.The agreed changes to the Long-term Care Insurance Scheme (LCIS) include a new user-pays contribution of up to £10,000 and increasing co-payments.
'A fighting chance'
The weekly payments will rise from £342.02 to £514.00 over a five-year phasing-in period beginning this year while the lump sum will be brought in at a later date.Deputy Peter Roffey, President of Employment and Social Security, brought forward the proposals and said he was delighted they were approved."It was absolutely vital, otherwise we would have stood no chance at all of stabilising and expanding the care sector, which we desperately need."He said accepting the proposals was the first step to creating a competitive market to meet demand and improving the pay of care workers."Recruiting and housing staff will be very difficult, but at least now we have the financial awards properly aligned with what they should be."It gives us a fighting chance of seeing expansion."Deputy Al Brouard's amendment to increase the number of years someone must live in the island, before accessing financial help to pay for care, from five to 20 also passed.A "sufficient connection" to the Bailiwick over that period will have to be demonstrated.Roffey said he felt the qualification level was 'harsh' but he respected the decision of his colleagues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Slashed tyres raises Guernsey deputy's fear for politicians
A Guernsey politician has been targeted by vandals who slashed the tyres of his motorbike, e-bike and his grandson's car while they were parked at his the motive behind the attack remains unknown, Deputy Peter Roffey suspects it may have been politically said they were investigating the attack after Roffey discovered the damage on Sunday after returning to his St Andrews home from a family who is standing down at the general election on 18 June after decades of service in the States of Guernsey, said: "At first, I thought it was just bad luck, but when I found all three vehicles had been targeted, it became clear this was deliberate." He added: "There hasn't been a spate of vandalism in the area, and my property seems to have been specifically targeted."Roffey, who was the youngest ever elected deputy in 1982, said the attack has left a "dusty taste" at the end of his political career. "There's no excuse for this kind of behaviour," he told BBC Radio Guernsey."In Guernsey, politicians are very accessible, if someone is upset with a decision, they can just talk to us."This kind of mindless vandalism is not what our community is about." 'Worst thing' Roffey said he had faced hostility throughout his political career. He recalled receiving threats, particularly during his campaign to introduce public smoking restrictions nearly 20 years he said this was the first time threats had escalated into physical damage."This is probably the worst thing that's actually happened to me," he said. "It's one thing to receive threats, but another to come home and find your property attacked." Roffey also expressed concern about the message this sends to prospective candidates. "I hope it doesn't put people off standing for election, but I wouldn't blame them if it did," he said. "We need people willing to make tough decisions, and this kind of intimidation narrows the field."
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Ombudsman has received 40 complains of ‘police predatory behaviour'
Justice Minister Naomi Long said the Ombudsman Marie Anderson's office receive around eight such complaints a year, and has not indicated that the number is increasing, but that there is a 'steady flow'. Ms Long was speaking during Assembly Questions for her department. Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker put to her that a recent Criminal Justice Inspection report noted that as of July 2024, the Police Ombudsman's Office had 19 active investigations of abuse of position for sexual purposes. He asked whether the minister intended to introduce a 'more comprehensive vetting process and a code of conduct'. Ms Long pointed out that the employment of police officers and vetting is not a matter for her department. She said: 'However when you look to this report, abuse of position, concerns and complaints, there are recommendations on how justice organisations should address matters and the timeframes within which they should do so. 'The PSNI, Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland and Public Prosecution Service all have responsibilities in addressing the abuse of position that referenced. 'Given that those organisations are operationally independent from me as justice minister and my department, I can't comment on progress of the recommendations, however I do agree that it is important that robust and effective processes are in place to ensure accountability and safe guarding. 'Given the vulnerability of some of the people in contact with police, it is important that we have absolute confidence that those individuals involved in that unethical behaviour do not draw other ethical officers into disrepute.' Asked by Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers for the number of cases of abuse of position for sexual purposes that have been investigated in the last 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months, Ms Long said she would not have access to that information directly. 'However since 2021, PONI has advised me that they have received around 40 complaints of what they described as police predatory behaviour, and say that they continue to receive an average of eight cases per year,' she said 'So they have not suggested that that has significantly increased but there has certainly been a steady flow.'
BBC News
26-05-2025
- BBC News
Guernsey politicians request £10m QE2 marina gate replacement
Replacing the gates of Guernsey's Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Marina could cost about £10m according to the president of the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB). STSB has approached Policy and Resources (P&R) to discuss how the project could be funded. Deputy Peter Roffey said the best way to fund the project would be through a loan from the States as this was a "a key bit of infrastructure" that was coming to the end of its life.P&R said it had only recently been made aware of the STSB proposal and had expressed its concerns to the board. Roffey admitted it was an expensive project for the States. Non-States member of the STSB and Chair of the Guernsey Ports board Simon Thornton led the delegation to P&R to request the funds. Some of the marina users said they hoped the new gate would be 2m, rather than the current 1m gate. Head of infrastructure delivery at Guernsey Ports, Jenny Giles said: "The QEII gates and surrounding infrastructure are coming to the end of their useful life."Due to their age, the constant use and the exposure to weather and tide conditions all year round, the gates and the surrounding infrastructure are showing considerable signs of wear with repairs being required more frequently."The gates are constantly monitored by Guernsey Ports' team and more recent surveys have established that it would be more cost effective to replace the gates rather than continue with the substantial repairs which are likely to increase year on year." The QE2 marina was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1989, although it first opened in 1987 and the gates have operated 26,280 would be the first time the main gates have been replaced since the facility was year, two new pontoons were installed at the QE2 Marina at a cost of £1.4m. Politicians also clashed with boat owners in 2024 after they increased the cost of moorings in St Peter Port alongside promises these increases would lead to further investments in Guernsey's of Guernsey's general election at one of BBC Guernsey's roadshows, chair of the Guernsey Development Agency Peter Watson criticised the lack of spending on infrastructure. Mr Watson said: "I really want to see some strategic working, I think they need to be brave, Guernsey has some big issues which need resolving. "We need infrastructure, we haven't spent on it in years."We really just have to build some infrastructure and move Guernsey forward."BBC Guernsey's next election roadshow is on 28 May at Vistas café.
