A MENTAL health masterplan is needed to ensure that Jersey does not fall dangerously behind in providing modern facilities for patients and staff, according to a retired senior Health civil servant.
Geoff Esnouf, who recently stepped down after 37 years working at St Saviour’s Hospital, warns that complacency and lack of action could cost the Island dearly.
He says that without concerted planning and investment, the Island could fall as far behind acceptable international standards as it did in the 1970s, when St Saviour’s Hospital was little better than a Victorian lunatic asylum.
Mr Esnouf is particularly frustrated with what he describes as a lack of progress on the introduction of new provisions for mentally disordered offenders and the management of curatorships under which the affairs of the mentally ill are looked after.
