New board to tackle 'fractured' health system

Deputy Tom Binet said he wants a new board and chief executive in charge of all healthcare services

Jersey's health minister has said he is looking to create a new management board to oversee all healthcare services next year.

Deputy Tom Binet said the "partnership board" and its new chief executive officer would lead one "seamless, holistic health service".

Mr Binet said it would bring together representatives from GPs, public health, charities and Health and Community Services (HCS).

He said the current system was "incoherent" and interactions between different healthcare providers were "sometimes a bit fractured".

Mr Binet said meetings with senior health leaders had already taken place to discuss initial plans for the new board.

He suggested the head of HCS or another senior health manager could run the group.

'Very useful'

The health minister said the new board would not challenge the role of the current HCS Advisory Board.

"They're essential for what they do and they would carry on advising HCS in a professional capacity," Mr Binet said.

"They've proved very useful and I certainly hope that continues."

A fifth non-executive director has been appointed to the HCS board but a new chairperson would not be appointed before next year, Mr Binet said.

The States Assembly will vote on whether to continue the HCS Advisory Board in April or May 2025, a scrutiny panel heard.

Rising health costs

In the proposed government budget for 2025-27, the health department was given £322m, including a £31m investment to "meet structural funding issues".

Mr Binet said he would be asking the government for more money "as soon as possible" for an investment into preventing illnesses such as new vaccination programmes or schemes for heart conditions.

He said it would be "pointless" to put an exact number on the cost but it would be "quite a lot of up front money".

"If we leave it to dealing with symptoms rather than courses of action we will have an increasing list of symptoms and a bigger bill," he said.

"So if we can get things right in the first instance, it should cut our ever-burgeoning health costs."