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2.7 Deputy A.E. Jeune of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the funding for the review of services:
Would the Minister advise Members which budget has funded the approximate sum of £800,000 for a review of services, when this sum was allocated, and provide Members - at today's sitting - with a copy of the terms of reference for that project with the agreed timescale for completion?
The Deputy of Trinity (Minister for Health and Social Services):
During 2010, the Health and Social Services Department identified significant resources to invest in the development of endoscopy services and the opening of the emergency assessment units. Delays resulting from the unpredictable process of attracting and recruiting appropriately skilled medical and nursing staff for these developments resulted in a one-off under-spend and slippage. This is a one-off under- spend that has enable resources to be identified for this hugely important piece of strategic planning work. I am happy to circulate the terms of reference and the timescales in the form of the project brief. It is envisaged that a Green Paper will be published in late spring 2011 with a White Paper in September 2011.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
Supplementary. What confidence can the Minister give to Members that this review will bring some outcomes with it? We see so many reviews being done in the Health Department and yet we do not seem to see any outcome.
The Deputy of Trinity :
As I said this is an important review. I think the difference here - and it has been mentioned, New Directions - is that we need to stress the importance of going into the future and having sustainable Health and Social Services. We need to have those outcomes and I think that is where getting a consultation firm in to support us who have wide expertise in doing health economy over the world will make sure that we do get the outcomes that we need.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire:
In my previous question to the Minister, I raised the issue of cross-Ministerial work and the Minister kindly explained how it was going to be across many sectors of society, an overarching strategy. I would like to ask the Minister, therefore - as it is going to touch upon the Minister for Social Security's portfolio in such a way, where there is lots of money - why is this money only coming from Health and Social Services?
The Deputy of Trinity :
Deputy , it is going to be run by Health and Social Services and it is Health and Social Services as we go forward into the future. But part of the consultation is going to out to, as I said, the third sector - faith groups and G.P.s, et cetera - and we need to be all encompassing and we need to take health, and especially community care, looking into the future.
- Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire:
May I ask a supplementary? I do not know if I managed to ... I will try to be more succinct. Has the Minister requested help with this funding from the Minister for Social Security?
The Deputy of Trinity :
No, I have not.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
The Minister said the money had come from under-spent money in the endoscopy unit. Can she tell us what the waiting lists are in this area, and when will funding be reinstated in this area of expertise?
The Deputy of Trinity :
As you know, as I said, this money is a one-off and these areas are part of, as we go forward, the waiting lists, but that is a specific issue regarding waiting lists that we did put one-off money to reduce the waiting list time last in 2009. That was fairly successful, but it was only a short time and it was one-off money. So that is why, looking for the strategic view is important because we need to be ahead of the game, so to speak, rather than behind.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
The Minister has not answered the question because what are the waiting lists in the area and secondly, when will money be reinstated in that area?
The Bailiff :
Well, I think, Deputy that is getting a bit off the subject which was to do with the overall review. No doubt you can pose questions on that.
- The Deputy of St. John :
In question 7, it asks for Members to be supplied with a copy of the terms of reference
of the project. Are we going to receive a copy of the terms of reference because it
would have been nice to have it prior to putting these questions? Or, is it like the reply I got earlier, that the Minister had her Blackberry with her but I must ask, did she look at her Blackberry?
The Deputy of Trinity :
As I said in my initial answer, that the terms of reference will be with States Members
by the end of the day and that includes all the timescales and all ... hopefully, most of
the information that States Members would want.
- The Deputy of St. Mary :
I am grateful that we will have the terms of reference, but can you let Members and the public know now, whether the terms of reference include full engagement with the users of health services, as opposed to specific stakeholder groups, like faith groups - the users?
The Deputy of Trinity :
Of course, you know, to get across this message; that is the most important thing. It is Health and Social Services as we move into the future, Health and Social ...
The Bailiff :
So the answer is yes. The Deputy of Trinity : Yes.
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
Will the terms of reference include a fully-costed and funded way forward because it seems to me, the drift of what the Minister is saying that we know where we are going, we have got New Directions, but we need to cost and fund the operation of the health service into the future?
The Deputy of Trinity : Yes.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
I just find it so amazing that having needed the money from the Health Insurance Fund, the department is able to find an under-spend. But having said that, finally could the Minister please advise what the tender process was and how many tenders were received?
The Deputy of Trinity :
There are 2 points to that question and I will deal with the second one first. It went through a full procurement process as set down. There were 6 terms of reference that went out to 6 firms that were shortlisted down to 3. I must stress that the allocation from the Health Insurance Fund, 2 weeks ago, was a totally separate health issue. That was to fund Health and Social Services on a year-by-year basis. This amount is only a one-off and those 2 things should not be confused.
The Bailiff :
Very well, we will come next to question 8 which Deputy Southern will ask of the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Minister has asked, through a note, as to
whether he can take slightly longer than normal to answer this question to begin with
and then that can set the scene for the many subsequent questions on the same topic and I have agreed he can do that.