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STATES OF JERSEY
EXTENDED LIMITS OF CO-PAYMENTS FOR G.P. CONSULTATIONS: YOUNG PEOPLE AND PREGNANT WOMEN (P.80/2020) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 14th July 2020 by the Minister for Children and Housing
STATES GREFFE
2020 P.80 Com.(2)
COMMENTS
I thank Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier for lodging this proposition and subsequent amendment.
Following the extension of the UK's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ("UNCRC") to Jersey in 2014 and the publication of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry ("IJCI") in 2017, the Government has made significant commitments to the Island's children and young people, including the Common
Strategic Policy 2018-2022 and Government Plan 2020-23 priority to put children first. The 2020 Government plan included an ambitious range of projects using growth
funding of over £20 million to support this pledge.
During these unprecedented times this pledge remains at the forefront of all our minds. The Government response to Covid-19 has required urgent action across every area of Government activity and presented challenges completely outside previous experience.
The response from Health and Social Services outlines the government's position regarding General Practitioners ("GPs") and the flat fees which have been introduced. These include that children under 5 will be provided a service free of charge, with a fee of £10.00 for children and young people aged 5 to 17. Whilst this is a positive step in the right direction, my position both personally and as the Minister for Children and Housing is that primary health care ought to be free at the point of need for everyone. This includes waiving the fee of £120.00 for pregnant mothers to ensure they get the best prenatal support available to ensure the health of the mother and the child.
Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises "the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health". This article obliges States Parties to "strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services". I believe that the cost of accessing primary health care services risks our compliance with Article 24.
In January 2021 the UNCRC will be looking into the implementation of the Convention in Jersey and our progress made since 2014. Wouldn't it be a wonderful celebration of this Government's tenure to introduce free primary health care for all children? I urge all members to support this proposition.
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Statement under Standing Order 37A [Presentation of comment relating to a proposition]
These comments were received by the States Greffe after the deadline set out in Standing Order 37A due to an administrative error in the Livelink process within the presenting Department.
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