- Steve Quinn returning to his native Scotland today
- The multiple sclerosis patient was inundated with support from Islanders as both the Jersey and Scottish authorities refused to fund his long-term care
- The Ayrshire authorities have now agreed to fund his care
- See pictures of his last day in Jersey below
A SERIOUSLY ill Jerseyman who has wanted to move to a care home near his family in Ayrshire, Scotland, for more than a year has thanked Islanders for their support as today, he got his wish.
Steve Quinn (57), a multiple sclerosis patient at Jersey Cheshire Home, had been frustrated as both the Jersey and Scottish authorities refused to fund his long-term care, should he move.
But following support from the JEP, Islanders on social media, the Scottish media and intervention from Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, the Ayrshire authorities last month agreed to fund his care.
Mr Quinn was due to fly to Scotland today, where he has a place waiting for him at Buckreddan Care Home.
He said: ‘I would like to thank the people of Jersey for their support, and to my family for their help.
‘My family are so important and I am really looking forward to seeing them again.’
Mr Quinn’s step-father, Jimmy Keohone, said that the whole family were planning to welcome him back to Scotland, where he was due to arrive this afternoon.
‘We are all delighted,’ said Mr Keohone. ‘We have been decorating Steve’s room to welcome him home.
‘The family are all going to come down tomorrow and he will be inundated with visitors.
‘The support we have had from the JEP, Jersey Cheshire Home and our local MSP has been fantastic.’
Mr Quinn’s daughter, Lauren Dunn, who is his only relative in Jersey, said she would miss him but is delighted that he will be close to his family again.
‘I am so happy he is going to live his life with the whole family,’ she said. ‘The support has been brilliant. It just shows that if you all work together, results can be achieved.’
A spokesperson for the Jersey Cheshire Home said: ‘We will miss Steve and wish him well in Scotland.’
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls the body’s actions and activities, such as movement and balance.
- MS is unpredictable. Symptoms can occur randomly. Some of the most common are problems with mobility and balance, pain, fatigue and muscle spasms.
- It is possible for MS to occur at any age, but people are most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.
- Women are two to three times as likely to develop MS as men.
- The exact cause of MS is not fully understood, although there is some evidence to suggest that it is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- MS is a life-long condition and as yet there is no cure, but there are many treatments, which aim to improve the symptoms and make them easier to live with.
- Islanders with the condition can join the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Jersey, more information about which can be found here
- The Jersey Cheshire Home opened its doors to its first resident on January 2 1983.
- The fact that it existed was down to the dedication and persistence of a few Islanders over the preceding years, most notably June Beslièvre who was instrumental in founding the charity and securing funding of nearly £800,000 from the late Eric Young, after whom the building is named.
- June was concerned that young disabled people in Jersey were not adequately cared for and wanted to provide somewhere permanent for disabled people.
- The local charity took its lead from the Cheshire Homes organisation, a charity that was founded by legendary wartime RAF pilot Group Captain Sir Leonard Cheshire, who wanted to look after disadvantaged air staff. It soon extended its remit to anyone who was disabled and is now one of the UKs largest organisations that provide care for disabled people.
- Sir Leonard visited the Island for the official opening of the Jersey Cheshire Home, which quickly established itself in Jersey as a vital centre of care for its permanent residents and occasional visitors.
- During their 30th anniversary year, in 2013, the Jersey Cheshire Home raised more than £300,000 through a series of fundraiser, which enabled them to achieve their anniversary goal of installing a new lift.
