GPs say Jersey's handling of the Covid pandemic cost lives

  • Video report by Caroline Lewis

Jersey's doctors have accused the government of allowing some of the island's "most vulnerable patients" to be sent back to nursing homes untested during the pandemic.

The Primary Care Body that represents the island's GPs say "this led to rapid spread" within care homes and a "consequent high proportion of deaths".

The damning statement, submitted as part of the States' Health Scrutiny Panel consultation, added that the problem was compounded "by a lack of PPE" in care homes and some home carers.

It also claimed that measures now proven to disrupt the virus spreading such as face coverings and social distancing were not quickly adopted - despite being rolled out at an early stage in other countries.

The body have also called for a review into Jersey's Nightingale Hospital, saying the more cost-effective option of self-monitoring was never seriously explored.

They did however praise Dr Ivan Muscat for providing clear and logical advice during a very difficult period.

In response Jersey's Health Minister says this statement does not reflect what happened in the island and it could have been copy and pasted from the UK.