Major shake-up proposed for Jersey health services

The plans include the appointment of a chief executive to oversee health services

A new board could oversee all of Jersey's health services, under plans for a major shake-up.

Health minister Tom Binet wants to separate the service from government, and let a new board run it with a new central fund.

The plans also include the appointment of a chief executive to oversee all of the island's health services from GPs to care homes, dentists and the hospital.

Binet said in the Health and Community Services Annual Plan that Health and Care Jersey had overreached its budget in recent years, and it was now at a "crossroads" where decisions needed to be made about its future.

He said it needed to concentrate on preventative care, by screening people for illnesses and making sure people lived a healthy lifestyle.

"We plan to establish an all-encompassing, unified, Jersey Health System," he said.

"Preventive health measures are a major focus of the proposal, including increased screening, vaccinations, health monitoring, and initiatives for healthier living from a young age.

"With appropriate investment and a willingness to embrace change, Jersey could become a model of best practice in health care."