26 September 2014
The Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) has published a response to the Scrutiny Panel's review into the redesign of health and social care in Jersey.
The response welcomes the panel’s constructive review of the programme to drive dynamic future change in the Island’s provision of health and social care. The programme’s range will cover hospital and community services as well as mental health and primary care.
Thanking the members of the Scrutiny Panel for their constructive review, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Anne Pryke, said: “The Panel’s review has been thorough and wide-ranging and I am pleased that it recognises the extensive work that has been going on.
“The transformation programme is already having a significant impact as services are improved and extended, and we have had excellent feedback so far.
“There is a long way to go. This is a 10-year programme and clearly we can’t change things overnight. But I hope that people will be encouraged by the significant improvements we have already seen, including waiting lists, accessible information and individualised care for patients to meet their needs.”
Response issued ahead of Budget debate
Following the publication of the Scrutiny Panel’s review on 5 September, the response was issued to States Members last weekend ahead of the Budget debate, which took place on Monday and Tuesday. During this debate, many of the issues raised by the Scrutiny Panel were discussed and it was agreed that the proposed site for Jersey’s Future Hospital project would be further evaluated; the issue will be debated by the next States Assembly after October’s General Election.
Of the Scrutiny Panel’s 15 recommendations, 11 have been accepted by the departments, who have pointed out that work to address many of the issues raised is already well underway. Two further recommendations have been noted, while two are rejected.
Coinciding with the response to the Scrutiny Panel’s review, the panel of independent experts, which was convened to review the progress of the transformation programme, has published its findings.
Reporting to the Ministerial Oversight Group (MOG), chaired by the Chief Minister, which has been overseeing the transformation programme since its inception, the Expert Panel has commended HSSD on the way the programme has been delivered. The project was described as being “consistent with best practice thinking internationally”, and the new hospital planned for Jersey as being critically important.
Major statement
Deputy Pryke said Islanders should be reassured by the findings of the MOG Expert Panel.
“The Expert Panel acknowledged that a new hospital is critically important,” she said. “Their report said this scheme and the associated system reforms ‘make a major statement to the people of Jersey and those outside about the importance of the Island’s health agenda’.
“There is much still to be done, but the findings and comments of the Expert Panel are very encouraging.”
Rachel Williams, Director of System Redesign and Delivery for HSSD, said: “This is about making services better for the people of Jersey, so it is important that we continue to listen to Islanders as we develop our plans for the future."
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