Health Assistance Scheme (FOI)

Request

A

The Health Assistance Scheme (HAS) has been described by the Minister for CLS as "a great success". Assuming the statement (in the connection of the announcement on additional financial help for GPs on Tuesday 10th May 2022) was made on the basis of an assessment of the HAS after its first year of operation in December 2021, please provide the assessment report, the numbers supported under the HAS and the amount paid out from the Health Insurance Fund (HIF) to support the HAS in its first year of operation?

B

The Minister for CLS made no mention of financial support for pharmacists in her announcement of support for GP published on 10th May 2022. When will pharmacist's receive an uplift in their support of prescriptions processed under the Health Insurance Fund (HIF)?

C

Please confirm how pharmacists are to be supported in their role in the Jersey Care Model, as a part of island Primary Care? 

Response

A

No assessment report is held.  As of 31 December 2021, 10,921 people were members of the Health Access Scheme, of whom 90% had received a service under the terms of the scheme on at least one occasion.  Funding for the scheme totalled £1,348,000 in 2021.

B

This aspect of the request poses a question rather than seeking information held in recorded form. The information requested is not held and Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

C

The Jersey Care Model (JCM) is a programme of work to deliver improved health and care centred around the person in the community. Pharmacists are central to this and are represented on the JCM, Clinical and Professional Advisory Forum and the Health and Care Partnership Group, in-putting into the programme.

Pharmacists are also represented on some of the relevant working groups, ensuring they are involved in the changes.

Article applied

Article 3 - Meaning of "information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a) it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b) it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.