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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY S. PITMAN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2009
Question
Following on from the Strategic Plan, what sector, if any, in his department's service delivery does the Minister plan to privatise or outsource and how many jobs will this effect; further still, what savings are planned?"
Answer
As stated by the Chief Minister on 16th June 2009, in response to an oral question from Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier , all organisations change and adapt as technological improvements, economic conditions and other innovative opportunities arise. This applies equally to the public sector which must change and adapt, particularly in the current economic conditions. All departments need to keep the provision of their services under constant review, which must include whether there are more commercial ways of working or opportunities for wider private sector involvement. As such opportunities arise, Departments will be expected to implement them as a means of improving efficiency and keeping costs down.
In the past, the Chief Minister has informed States members of a good example of this in the recent exercise tendering for the improvement and upgrading of the States website in his own department. As a result, a consortium of private companies successfully bid for, and are now undertaking, not only the development but also future provision of web facilities.
The Health and Social Services Department has a number of long standing partnership arrangements with both the charitable and private sectors here in Jersey. My Department disburses over £10M per year to the grant aided (charitable) sector, with Family Nursing and Home Care Services being the largest recipient of funds from within this large sum of money. Two years ago, my Department also entered into a partnership agreement with a number of private nursing home providers which meant that Leoville and McKinstry wards could be closed and the residents thereby enjoy higher quality facilities and environments. It is envisaged that these partnerships will expand – again, building on good working relationships between the States, charitable and private agencies – rather than new services being created. However, my officers and I will continue to be alert to opportunities which new forms of organisation and service provision offer to patients and to clients.
At this stage, therefore, it is not envisaged that there will be any reduction or loss of staff within my Department as a result of new forms of public private partnership.