Health budget needs extra £24m a year - minister

Jersey's Health Minister said rising costs are adding extra pressure on budgets

Jersey's healthcare system needs an additional £24m a year to balance the books, an island minister has said.

Deputy Tom Binet, Jersey's Health and Social Services Minister, told the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel he believed that figure would be needed in both 2024 and 2025, depending on what long-term savings had been secured.

The minister had previously said the deficit in the Health and Community Services (HCS) budget was £18m, but rising costs and demand had pushed this up.

Vice-chair of the panel Deputy Jonathan Renouf said it was concerning to hear the deficit had risen.

Mr Binet said his department would look to identify any "exceptional items" which will need to be dealt with by the budget so everyone has "clarity" on the matter.

"If everything goes completely wrong tomorrow and there's some great disaster, I think everybody will understand that's got to be treated differently," Mr Binet said.

Speaking after the panel meeting, Mr Renouf said: "It is concerning that the deficit in HCS funding has ballooned from £18m a few months ago to £24m now.

"Clearly, not just States Members but the Island is going to have to have a serious debate about healthcare funding going forward."