Last month, States Members agreed to allow care providers to set up new temporary homes without having to register with the industry regulator. It was deemed that to do this at short notice would be impractical.
It is hoped that the latest proposition will close a ‘back door’ which may have allowed new organisations to exploit the situation and set up temporary facilities.
During a virtual online States sitting yesterday, Health Minister Richard Renouf spoke about the regulations, brought in a proposition by the Chief Minister, and assured members that although it might not be possible to maintain normal standards, care home residents would not be subject to unsatisfactory conditions.
‘Emergency regulations are designed to meet a highly unusual situation where we are not able to meet all the usual standards imposed at all times.
‘What I commit to do is of course consult closely with the care commission to take, with absolute seriousness, their advice and recommendations but we will be engaged in trying to save lives here and there may need be some compromise around the excellent care standards we have,’ he said.
‘I want to maintain them as much as can be, but at this stage, not knowing exactly what we might be dealing with – in terms of numbers, premises or requirements – I am afraid I cannot say that we will be adopting the standards that exist in normal times.
‘Please rest assured that we care in Health and Community Services. We are not going to throw patients into wholly unsatisfactory, unsanitary, dilapidated conditions with insufficient staff or protection. This will be a care environment and we will be looking after Islanders and I care about that.’
The regulations, which will expire on 30 September this year, were eventually adopted unanimously by 47 members.
Any temporary homes staying open beyond 1 October will need to register with the regulator.
Meanwhile, a proposition brought by Children and Housing Minister Sam Mézec was successfully adopted. It formalises a number of measures proposed to minimise movement and protect tenants and landlords during the coronavirus crisis.
The measures include preventing the eviction of tenants who have encountered financial hardship due to the Covid-19 outbreak, suspending rent increases until 30 September and enabling tenants to extend their tenancy agreements.
Meanwhile, any tenant due to move into a property will now be able to cancel this arrangement and will be legally entitled to obtain a refund of any money paid to the landlord to secure the property.
The successful proposition also prevents landlords from using rent arrears accrued during the current crisis as grounds to evict tenants in the future and allows the minister to give comment in future court proceedings to provide guidance on what constitutes ‘genuine hardship’
to ensure such claims are genuine.
The emergency regulations, which will expire on 30 September this year, were eventually adopted by 42 votes to one – made by Deputy Rowland Huelin.
