(283) Potential changes to structure and delivery of health and social care services

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1240/5/1(283)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 23RD MAY 2017

Question

Will the Minister advise whether consideration has been given to potential changes to the structure and delivery of Health and Social Care services and, if so –

1. state if and when any changes will be open to public consultation;
2. state what timescale he has for bringing a proposition to the States seeking acceptance of a new model, and, if there will be no such proposition, explain why not;
3. explain in particular whether, given the dispute which has arisen over the changes to the terms and conditions of home care workers between Unite the Union and Family Nursing and Home Care management as a result of changes to the delivery of services, there will be any consultation over any new model with employee representatives as prime stakeholders and, if none, why not; and
4. assure members that any proposals will not reduce the public's ability to hold the Minister to account?

Answer

The document, Redesign of the Jersey Health and Social Care Governance Model', is currently a policy under consideration. It was sent to the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel confidentially in advance of a private briefing so as to assist the Panel in considering how it wished to undertake a review of the Report & Proposition. It is disappointing that this question has been asked on the basis of information provided to the Panel in confidence and before the planned private briefing that would have answered these and other questions.

The document proposes that governance of the health and social care strategy is further strengthened and broadened, including introducing a Public and Patient Advisory Group, to ensure that the views of Islanders are regularly heard throughout the strategy implementation. This builds on the success of the engagement approaches used in the Mental Health Strategy, where a Citizen's Panel provided valuable insight.

1. The proposed model is the next logical step on our transformation journey. This was subject to public consultation in 2012. The proposed model has been developed with over 40 stakeholders from across health and social care, including public and patient representatives, voluntary sector organisations and Primary Care. These stakeholders wholeheartedly support the proposed model, especially regarding improving transparency, visibility and the voice of Islanders. I do not believe this requires further public consultation.
2. I will be lodging a Report & Proposition in June, subject to approval by the Council of Ministers.
3. No changes are planned to the terms and conditions of employees in HSSD as a result of these governance changes. FNHC, as a key partner, was one of a number of stakeholders involved in producing the proposed governance model. A briefing for the HSSD Staff Partnership Forum (which comprises trade union representatives) on the proposed model will be held later this month.
4. The proposed governance model fully retains the Ministerial role. It strengthens public accountability by proposing that strategy meetings are held in public and that public and patient representatives participate in strategic discussions. The proposed Public and Patient Advisory Group further increases the voice of Islanders in strategic discussions and improves communication, engagement and accountability.