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A dedicated gynaecology ward where sensitive matters can be dealt with in privacy is finally set to be reintroduced in Jersey next year following calls from islanders – a move that a respected consultant is hopeful will improve care while boosting staff morale and retention.
Rayner Ward is scheduled to be refurbished and re-opened in 2025 to improve care for those undergoing gynaecological and breast surgery.
The dedicated gynaecology ward was introduced in 1991 to ensure that those who required hospitalisation for issues such as abortions and miscarriages were cared for with the required sensitivity and privacy.
But shortly before the pandemic, Rayner Ward was merged with Portelet Ward to become the 'Surgical Floor' – a 26-bed general surgery ward treating patients across a range of specialities, including gastrointestinal, dental, urology, breast, maxillofacial, gynaecology, and ear, nose and throat.
Among those to decry the "lost" ward was Neil MacLachlan MBE – a Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist for the States of Jersey for over 30 years – who shared concerns about the ability to provide "sensitive care" in what he described as a "suboptimal environment", as Express reported earlier this year.
Pictured: A dedicated gynaecology ward was introduced in Jersey in 1991 to provide privacy and specialised care to those experiencing abortions, miscarriages and other gynaecological issues, but then disappeared.
Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell, who has responsibility for women’s health, confirmed the Rayner Ward re-opening ahead of the publication of the results of the women's health and wellbeing survey.
The findings, which will be published today, are due to provide insights into key health issues affecting women – including mental health, access to services, and the impact of socio-economic factors, and gender disparities.
The Assistant Minister came under fire earlier this year when it emerged that the Government had decided not to progress a standalone Women's Health Strategy due to resource constraints.
Pictured: Assistant Health Minister Deputy Andy Howell had responsibility for the Women's Health Strategy.
But Deputy Howell shared the progress that has been made in addressing the health needs of women and girls in a recent blog and outlined plans for a dedicated ward offering care to women, and a gynaecological services improvement plan.
"In response to comments from islanders, Rayner Ward in Jersey General Hospital is scheduled to be refurbished and re-opened in 2025, with a view to improving the quality and experience of care for women who are undergoing gynaecological surgery and breast surgery," she said.
"In addition, the Women’s and Children’s Care Group are actively developing a gynaecological improvement plan, which will lead to improvements from 2025 onwards."
Mr MacLachlan MBE praised the re-opening of Rayner Ward as "wonderful news".
"This is will hopefully give all those involved in women’s care a real morale boost for next year," he told Express.
Pictured: Mr Neil MacLachlan MBE FRCOG is a Consultant Gynaecologist at The Lido Women’s Health Hub.
He explained: "The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published a helpful report in 2016 entitled: ‘Providing Quality Care for Women – Standards for Gynaecology Care’, in which clear guidance was given to those responsible in commissioning women’s health care.
"In this report it is made clear that women should be assessed, investigated and treated in an appropriate environment which would mean a same-sex ward with easily accessible washrooms and appropriate facilities and staff.
"It is therefore heartening to hear that the HSC will be reopening Rayner Ward which will facilitate patient-centred care, and I sincerely hope that this will allow both medical and nursing teams the chance to recreate the teamwork that this ward once had."
Mr MacLachlan added: "The management of early pregnancy loss and many other sensitive female health issues deserves an especially sensitive environment, and we owe it to all our women and staff to have this precious resource back again.
"This will also help with the recruitment and retention problem, and it is certainly encouraging that our management team and those involved in the Jersey’s Women Health Strategy can set the sort of standards that our Jersey Care Commission will no doubt be looking for when they next visit."
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