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1240/5/1(590)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
BY DEPUTY J.M. MAÇON OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2017
Question
Given the report of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (R.59/2017), will the Minister advise how his Department puts children at the centre of what it does and explain whether this includes, as an example, the examination of waiting lists for gastric bypass surgery and, if not, why not?
Answer
The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry made it clear in its report that one of the lessons to be learned was that: "The welfare and interests of children are paramount and trump all other considerations". This is a lesson for all States Departments and the wider community.
The initial response to the Care Inquiry from the Council of Ministers (P108/2017) has been submitted to the States Assembly and is scheduled for debate in December 2017. HSSD is taking a significant role, along with other stakeholders, in improving services which support improved outcomes for children, including working to develop a new Jersey Children's Plan, in which the welfare and interests of children as a guiding principle is paramount.
The Inquiry Report set out the necessity of culture change to improve the circumstances of children. Culture change across the system is a work in progress and will take concerted effort by all parties supporting children.
There are no children on the waiting list for gastric bypass surgery. Such surgery for under 18s would only be considered in exceptional circumstances and would be carried out at a specialist paediatric centre and only after maturity had been reached.