Health and Community Services Interim Board (P.19/2023): amendment.

STATES OF JERSEY

HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES INTERIM BOARD (P.19/2023): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 5th May 2023

by Deputy L.V. Feltham of St. Helier Central Earliest date for debate: 23rd May 2023

STATES GREFFE

2023  P.19 Amd.

HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES INTERIM BOARD (P.19/2023): AMENDMENT

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After the words "report accompanying the proposition" insert the words – ", except that within Appendix 1 –

1. all  references  to  a  "3-year  period"  should  be  substituted  with  "18-month period";
2. within point 53 (b) the words "two years" should be substituted with "18 months"; and
3. within point 92 the words "3 to 5 years" should be substituted with "18 months"".

 DEPUTY L.V. FELTHAM OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL

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

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to agree –

1. that the Minister for Health and Social Services should establish an interim non-statutory  Health  and  Community  Services  Board  providing  for improved governance and oversight of the Health and Community Services Department; and
2. the proposed terms of reference to which that interim Board will function, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report accompanying the proposition, except that within Appendix 1 –

1. all references to a "3-year period" should be substituted with "18-month period";
2. within point 53 (b) the words "two years" should be substituted with"18 months"; and
3. within point 92 the words "3 to 5 years" should be substituted with "18 months".

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P.19/2023 Amd.

REPORT

The purpose of this amendment is to reduce the initial appointment of the interim Health and Community Services Board to 18 months in order to reduce exposure to any risks or costs that may occur should the structure of the Board not be fit for purpose, or it be found that the Board is not meeting its intended objectives.

The 18-month period gives time for the Minister, Scrutiny, and the PAC to assess the performance of the interim board while work continues on the relevant law drafting. After this period, the Minister would then be required to come back to the Assembly to seek either approval for the continuation of the interim board or bring the legislation forward to establish the statutory board.

One of the Public Accounts Committee's key areas of focus is Health and Social Care, and it is the Committee's intention to review the effectiveness of the Board during this time and make any recommendations for improvement that may be required. Reducing the  initial  appointments  to  18  months  will  provide  further  ability  for  any recommendations to be acted on in a timely manner.

I hope that this amendment will enable members who have concerns about the costs associated with the Board, and its suitability to resolve current governance issues to have some comfort that these risks are reduced, given the current and urgent need to improve the governance and oversight of Health and Community Services.

Financial and manpower implications

Financial implications should be minor as the costs for the longer period will already have been calculated and budgeted for by the Minister. Either costs will be reduced due to the shorter period, or, should the appointments be extended, will fall in line with the Ministers projected costs.

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P.19/2023 Amd.