06 March 2024
The Government of Jersey is pleased to announce the planned implementation of the Jersey Health
and Care Index (JHCI), a collaborative project with the Island's General Practitioners (GPs). The JHCI
will create a secure healthcare information system with a focus on accuracy and consistency in
patient data across local healthcare providers.
The JHCI will ensure that essential core personal information, including names, addresses,
telephone numbers, date of birth, registered GPs, and gender, is the same across all local
healthcare systems and providers. This means that updates to that core information made in one
system will automatically reflect in other relevant healthcare systems.
With the introduction of JHCI, Islanders and healthcare providers will benefit from:
- access to the most up to date information by authorised healthcare providers, including
during emergencies
- streamlined process for patients to update their personal information through a "tell us
once" approach
- simplified process for referrals from GPs to hospital consultants for specialist care
- timely invitations for vital screening programmes, such as diabetic and cancer screenings.
The JHCI will utilise the personal information held by GPs and the Government’s Health and
Community Services to establish patient records, ensuring that only the most up to date
information is used. The information will also be verified against the Government’s People
Directory, as well as the data held by Customer and Local Services.
The data protection team has been involved to ensure that personal information is used lawfully
and securely. The JHCI will contain only ‘identifiers’ such as name, address, phone number, date of
birth, registered GP, and gender. It will not contain any medical information or history, such as test
results, referrals, diagnoses, or appointment dates.
Patient information will only be used for healthcare purposes and as such, will only be accessible to
authorised individuals, ensuring strict data privacy. Further information about how your personal
data is collected and used – and the measures taken to protect that data – is available via Jersey
Health and Care Index (JHCI) Privacy Notice (gov.je)
The creation of the JHCI is a significant step towards a more connected and efficient healthcare
system.
Dr Nigel Minihane, GP and Chair of the Primary Care Body (PCB), said: "The Jersey Health and Care
Index is a promising development in our healthcare landscape. We believe that by establishing a
secure and consistent healthcare information system, the JHCI will streamline patient data
management. This will lead to better patient care and ensure that essential personal information is
always accurate and accessible to authorised healthcare providers."
Enda McVeigh, Consultant at Health and Community Services, added: "We are excited to introduce
the Jersey Health and Care Index in partnership with our dedicated General Practitioners. The JHCI
will enhance healthcare connectivity, making it easier for Islanders to access vital services. It's a
significant step toward a more efficient healthcare system, that will improve the patient
experience."
gov.je