This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
STATES OF JERSEY
PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2024 - 2027 (P.72/2023) – THIRTY-FIRST AMENDMENT (P.72/2023 AMD.(31)) – COMMENTS
Presented to the States on 8th December 2023 by the Council of Ministers
STATES GREFFE
2023 P.72 Amd.(31) Com.
COMMENTS
Ministers acknowledge the vital role that GPs, community pharmacists and other primary care health providers play within the overall health system. Unfortunately, Ministers are not able to support this amendment for the reasons set out below.
The amendment proposes that £300,000 of funding to support a vaccination service is transferred from the Public Health team to the Health and Community Services (HCS) department. At present all the expertise on vaccination services is coordinated through the Public Health team. HCS do not deliver a vaccination service.
GP and community pharmacy representatives are involved in ongoing discussions regarding the future delivery of vaccination services. The outcome of these discussions will take full account of the needs of the patient and the accessibility of service as well as ensuring good value for the taxpayer on a sustainable basis.
In discussions with GPs, there was a shared understanding that the Public Health team is needed to carry out functions that are essential and independent the of the operational model chosen for vaccine delivery. Central functions include:
• Vaccine procurement.
• Developing vaccination policy in line with best practice.
• Awareness raising of vaccination campaigns with the public so they can make informed decisions.
• Data management to monitor vaccination uptake across multiple providers.
• Capacity to take additional action if vaccination uptake is lower e.g., catch-up campaigns.
• Ability to initiate ad hoc vaccination campaigns e.g., to manage outbreaks.
Ministers do not support this proposal as it has a negative effect upon the Director of Public Health's ability to coordinate an Island-wide vaccination service in the absence of any current or viable alternative thus putting Islanders' health at risk.
Conclusion
Ministers and officers are involved in ongoing commercially sensitive discussions about the future options for a vaccination service. As such, neither the transfer of funding or the revision of the Government Plan wording as proposed in the amendment should not be supported until these negotiations have concluded and there is a clear alternative service arrangement in place.
Comment under Standing Order 37A [Presentation of comment relating to a proposition]
These comments were submitted to the Greffier after noon on the penultimate working day before the day the meeting at which the proposition is to be debated.
Page - 2
P.72/2023 Amd.(31) Com.
The delay in submission is due to the need to conclude internal review procedures and the volume of government plan business.
Page - 3
P.72/2023 Amd.(31) Com.