Jersey patients will have more local treatment

Fewer patients from Jersey may have to go away for treatment under plans to reform the island's health service, according to the person overseeing reform.

Rachel Williams says one of the aims of health reform changes is to have fewer patients receive treatment overseas.

The island has appointed three commissioners to help with the changes to the health service.

Plans include a new hospital and a move towards more community-based care.

Ms Williams said that one of the big ideas - after listening to islanders' suggestions - was to bring more specialist care to the island.

Bespoke service

She said fewer patients from Jersey would have to go away for treatment under the plans.

"We send a lot of people off island, we send a lot of people over to the UK for treatment and sometimes that is right and proper.

"But as a whole some of those services could be delivered in Jersey," she said.

Deputy Kristina Moore leads a panel that reviews health policy and said overhauling the system was a chance to create a bespoke service for Jersey.

She said: "We have the opportunity here to create something tailor-made to our lifestyle and island community and that is what the process is about."

Deputy Moore said the overhaul meant patients would have more responsibility for their own care - as the health service moved to more community-based support.