Jersey hospital operation waiting times increasing

Deputy Pryke said increasing demand for hip and knee replacements was causing delays

Waiting times for routine operations are increasing because of higher demands on Jersey's health service, the island's health minister has said.

Deputy Anne Pryke said the increased workload was due to people living longer.

The minister said the hospital could bring in consultants from outside the island to help reduce waiting lists for non-emergency surgery.

She said a full review of services would be published this month.

Deputy Pryke told the States putting more care into the community would help solve some of the problems around bed demand.

"We are an ageing society, we are living longer so we need more hip replacements, knee replacements and we offer a more hospitalised service.

"If we can put more care in the community people can be discharged that little bit earlier or even not need to come into the hospital which will release more beds.

"In 2010 there was a huge increase in waiting times, staff challenges continue to be a challenge and will always be a challenge. We try hard with consultants to bring the waiting list down.

"If it means extra clinics then we will do that from time to time," she said.