Patients will be able to appeal A&E misuse charges

Health & Care Jersey has published details of new funding initiatives

Health & Care Jersey has confirmed there will be an appeals process for people charged for accessing the emergency department (A&E ) in a non-emergency.

It is one of several changes included as part of proposed new healthcare funding initiatives. They include charges for misusing A&E and missing appointments, as well as a new approach to what treatments and interventions are prioritised, with some no longer remaining free.

The department said the island faced "tough choices" in order to "protect vital front-line services for islanders".

If the States Assembly approves news spending plans in December, the department will see its budget rise to £381m.

'Free up resources'

The new emergency department charging policy, which will be subject to consultation, aimed to redirect people with minor ailments to their GP or a community pharmacist.

Under the proposed plan, all patients arriving at A&E would undergo triage, health bosses said.

Those deemed not to require emergency care would be given advice on alternative services. If they still chose to be seen at the hospital, they would be charged.

The fee was expected to be similar to the current rates for the Jersey Doctors on Call (JDOC) service, which is £77 for residents and £97 for non-residents.

A reduced fee would be available for individuals in households receiving income support, officials said.

Certain patient groups would be exempt from the charge, including children and psychiatric patients, and an appeals process would also be established to handle any disputes.

Health & Social Care Jersey (HSC) said "almost a third" of those who came to A&E were not genuine emergency cases and the charges would "free up resources... to focus on genuine emergencies".

'Clinically sensible' treatments

Patients who repeatedly missed hospital appointments without notice could also face charges under the proposals.

HCJ said it estimated there were about 1,000 missed appointments each month, costing the taxpayer more than £1.3m a year.

The DNA Charge - or Did Not Attend - would see patients who failed to inform the hospital in advance and miss a second appointment charged a fee of £55.

Similar exemptions would apply to the charge, and the fee would also not apply to those who cancelled with at least 24 hours' notice or in exceptional circumstances, health bosses said.

The department is also looking to introduce a new policy to decide which medicines and treatments will be publicly-funded, moving away from a reliance on UK guidelines.

Health and Care Jersey said the Treatments and Interventions Prioritisation Policy (TIPP) would allow it to assess which drugs and treatments were "cost-effective and clinically sensible for Jersey".

As part of the changes, some minor treatments and non-essential medications of low clinical value would no longer be funded, something Health Minister Tom Binet has previously alluded to.

HSC said this would ensure that public funding was directed towards "vital health services" for islanders.