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1240/5(5755)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2010
Question
Would the Minister advise how many elderly persons in full-time care (when the States contribute to the cost of care) are non-native or those who have not made Social Security contributions since their arrival in the Island and would she detail the various nationalities, including British subjects and indicate whether or not a reciprocal health agreement exists to cover full costs?
If no reciprocal agreement exists, would the Minister advise who meets the cost of the care (the family, States of Jersey or other) and if it is the States of Jersey, what steps, if any, have been taken to address the situation since the Minister and I discussed this matter some months ago and, if action has been taken, when was this?
Answer
There are currently 108 older people placed in full-time care by HSS services' for older people. Of these 55 were born in Jersey and 53 were born elsewhere but had been resident in Jersey for 5 years prior to them requiring long term care. We do not analyse nationality because is it not appropriate to do so, nor can we provide information about whether social security contributions have been paid. In line with the Social Security Department our eligibility criteria are not linked to the payment of social security contributions.
Long-term care funding consists of two separate elements, the long-term stay element and the nursing element. Of the 53 mentioned above 28 pay for the long-term stay element of their care, 19 have the long-term stay element funded by the Social Security Department. 6 have the long term stay element funded by Health and Social Services Department. The nursing care element for all 53 is funded by the Health and Social Services Department.
Under our existing policy the Department recognises 10 reciprocal health agreements, these however only relate to emergency or acute treatment and have no bearing on the provision of long-term care.
The Department recognises that its existing overseas patients' policy needs revision and has drafted a proposed new policy which has been considered by the Law Officers Department and will be implemented pending discussions with Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel.
The proposed new policy makes a direct link between the payment of tax and length of residency in relation to the provision of emergency and acute care and between Social Security's residency criteria in relation to long-term care.