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Proposed Government Plan 2023-2026 (P.97/2022): fifteenth amendment (P.97/2022. Amd.(15).) – amendment Off-island medical treatment

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STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2023- 2026 (P.97/2022): FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT (P.97/2022 AMD.(15)) – AMENDMENT

OFF-ISLAND MEDICAL TREATMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 5th December 2022 by the Council of Ministers

STATES GREFFE

2022  P.97 Amd.(15).Amd.

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2023-2026 (P.97/2022): FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT (P.97/2022 AMD.(15)) – AMENDMENT

____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH 1 –

After the words "the Head of Expenditure for Health and Community Services should be increased by", for the number "£734,000" substitute "£350,000"; and

Delete sub-paragraph (ii).

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Note:  After this amendment, the fifteenth amendment would read as follows – 1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (e) –

After the words "Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" insert the words –

", except that – in Summary Table 5(i) to allocate funds to enable the extension of the provision of travel for individuals accompanying patients travelling out of the island to receive treatment arranged by the Health and Community Services Department, such funding to be informed by a review of the process by which travel is provided and purchased for travel, in order to ensure the provision is patient centred and the best value for money is being achieved –

i.  the Head of Expenditure for Health and Community Services should be increased by £350,000

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2023 – 2026 specified in Article 9(1) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") and specifically –

  1. to approve the estimate of total States income to be paid into the Consolidated Fund in 2023 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 to the Report, which is inclusive of the proposed taxation and impôts duties changes outlined in the Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(a) of the Law;
  2. to approve the proposed Changes to Approval for financing/borrowing for 2023, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report, which may be obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, as and when required, in line  with  Article  9  (2)(c)  of  the  Law,  of  up  to  those  revised  approvals.
  1. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2023 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law;
  2. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2023 and the total cost of each such project and any amendments to the proposed total cost of a major project under a previously approved Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(d), (e) and (f) of the Law and as set out in Appendix 2 - Summary Table 4 to the Report.
  3. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for 2023, for each Head of Expenditure, being gross expenditure less estimated income (if any), in line with Articles 9(2)(g), 10(1) and 10(2) of the Law, and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report, except that in Summary Table 5(i) to allocate funds to enable the extension of the provision of travel for individuals accompanying patients travelling out of the island to receive treatment arranged by the Health and Community Services Department, such funding to be informed by a review of the process by which travel is provided and purchased for travel, in order to ensure the provision is patient centred and the best value for money is being achieved –

i.  the Head of Expenditure for Health and Community Services should be increased by £350,000

  1. to  approve  the  estimated  income,  being  estimated  gross  income  less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2023 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 6 to the Report;
  2. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2023 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
  3. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2023 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report;
  4. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2023-2026, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report.

REPORT

The Council of Ministers welcomes the amendment, which seeks to make additional monies available to provide more support for patient transport.

The Minister for Health and Social Services has been clear that she wishes to see the policy  change,  and  that  patients  and  their  families  travelling  for  treatment  need compassion and support. The amendment supports that position.

However, rather than moving funding from the Cabinet Office, Ministers instead wish to use some of the monies generated by Deputy Andrews ' amendment on tobacco duties (should it be agreed as part of the Government Plan). This approach would prevent the need to amend any workstreams in the Cabinet Office, while providing additional monies to the Travel Office.

If this approach is taken, Ministers would propose that the Travel Office's budget is increased by £350,000 rather than £734,000, which is believed to be sufficient and will make a real difference. This is the reason for this amendment. As the Deputy says in his amendment, it is difficult to estimate the additional funding that may be needed. £350,000 is the best current estimate of Ministers so that all patients can have a companion if they wish to.

Financial and manpower implications

The Financial and Staffing implications are as outlined in the report.

The Head of Expenditure of Health and Community Services will increase by £350,000

if this amendment to the amendment is accepted. The intention of Ministers is to fund

this increase in patient transport through the additional revenue raised by Amendment 1.