Health of population

WQ.10/2021

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER

BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHER N OF ST. HELIER QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 25th JANUARY 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2021

Question

What consideration, if any, has the Chief Minister given to the impact that the austerity programme implemented by the previous U.K. Government over the past decade had on the health of the U.K. population; and will he commit to ensuring that the level of public service funding over the coming years is sufficient to ensure that the health of the Island's population is not worsened by any such austerity measures?

Answer

The impact of U.K. government policies on U.K. citizens is a matter for the U.K. Government.

As set out in the answer to Written Question 6/2021 asked by the Deputy last week, the Marmot reviews identified six key areas for action to reduce health inequalities:

1. giving every child the best start in life
2. enabling all children, young people and adults to maximize their capabilities and have control over their lives
3. creating fair employment and good work for all
4. ensuring a healthy standard of living for all
5. creating and developing sustainable places and communities
6. strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

These areas are well aligned to recent government actions and the priorities set out in the current Common Strategic Policy and the 2021 Government Plan, as are ongoing efforts by Public Health to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

Significant funding is identified in the 2021 Government Plan to support these areas. For example, under the CSP priorities of "Putting Children First" and "Improving Health and Wellbeing", additional funding of over £260 million is identified over the period 2021 to 2024.

The Jersey Government has no plans to impose austerity measures and is currently making a generational investment in the health of islanders through the Jersey Care Model and the Our Hospital projects.

For reference: WQ 6

WQ.6/2021

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER

BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 18th JANUARY 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 25th JANUARY 2021

Question

To what extent does the Chief Minister consider the findings of the report Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 years on', namely that widening inequities in power, money and resources have resulted in inequities in health generally and during the Covid-19 pandemic specifically, to be applicable to Jersey; and, in light of these findings, what measures will he take to reduce income inequality as the Government seeks to improve health and well-being in the coming 3 years of the current Government Plan?

Answer

The original Marmot Review was published in 2010. It reported on an independent review into health inequalities in England lead by Professor Sir Michael Marmot and commissioned by the UK Secretary of State for Health. The review proposed evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England.

In particular, it established 6 key areas for action

1. giving every child the best start in life
2. enabling all children, young people and adults to maximize their capabilities and have control over their lives
3. creating fair employment and good work for all
4. ensuring a healthy standard of living for all
5. creating and developing sustainable places and communities
6. strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention.

In February 2020, Professor Marmot published a further report, "Health equity in England: The Marmot review 10 years on". This was just before the coronavirus pandemic. In December 2020, Professor Marmot published "Build Back Fairer: "The COVID-19 Marmot Review". This report reflected on the impact of Covid on health inequalities in England.

The findings of the two reviews published in 2020 relate specifically to actions of the UK government including the government response to covid. As such, these findings may not be directly applicable to Jersey as education, housing, health and benefit policies and the covid responses are set locally and are designed to respond to local circumstances.

However, the six areas originally identified in 2010 and endorsed in 2020 as key priorities for action on the social determinants of health that are necessary to reduce health inequalities. These

are well aligned to recent government actions and the priorities set out in the current Common Strategic Policy and the 2021 Government Plan, as are ongoing efforts by Public Health to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

Improving health and wellbeing is a key priority for the Government.

In March 2020, a Health and Wellbeing Framework for Jersey was published (R.21/2020). In November 2020, the Assembly approved a new Jersey Care Model (P.114/2020) Actions to improve health and wellbeing are planned under the Common Strategic Priority: "We will improve Islanders' wellbeing and mental and physical health by supporting Islanders to live healthier, active, longer lives, improving the quality of and access to mental health services, and by putting patients, families and carers at the heart of Jersey's health and care system."

Planned actions for 2021 include:

• We will continue to deliver a range of preventative and proactive schemes focused on inspiring an Active Jersey', with a boost to alternative delivery methods in response to lockdown measures

• We will continue to support the reduction of preventable disease, to reverse the current upward trend in overweight and obesity rates, to increase healthy eating, to reduce the rates of smoking and harmful alcohol consumption, and to deliver a range of preventative and proactive schemes

• We will significantly improve access to mental health services, bringing parity of esteem to the mental health agenda, invest in our mental health environment and building infrastructure, implement initiatives for crisis support, a listening lounge', complex trauma, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and mental health legislation

• We will continue to expand our 24-hour community nursing and primary care services, develop a preventative model of dental services for children and new models of care to support people with diabetes, and develop a model that improves access to primary care for financially vulnerable people

• We will begin to implement the  Jersey Care Model that will enable  a  shift to a more preventative health service, enabling it to better cope with forecast demand from demographic change

• We will increase the investment in end of life health care to provide a range of services which are patient centred and delivered in accordance with their preferences

Separately, the government also plans actions under the Common Strategic Priority: "We will reduce income inequality and improve the standard of living by improving the quality and affordability of housing, improving social inclusion, and by removing barriers to and at work."

These actions address not just income inequality but housing, social inclusion and a fair labour market. These are all key factors to be addressed in supporting improvements in health and wellbeing.

Actions for 2021 include:

• We will begin to develop detailed plans to implement agreed recommendations following the publication of the Housing Development Board's review of housing in Jersey

• We will continue to improve support and protection for tenants

• We will develop proposals to better support disabled adults living at home, and their informal carers

• We will fund the forecast overspend on Income Support in 2021-24 as a result of Covid-19 in line with the economic forecast

• We will fund the Co-Funded Payroll Scheme through to it being phased out in March 2021

• We will implement actions to modernise the Island's personal income tax system, in particular to modernise the tax treatment of married women and people in same-sex relationships

• We will continue to deliver the disability strategy alongside improving community-based services and supporting diversity

• We will develop a new approach to supporting workers with long-term health conditions to return to or remain in employment

• We will review the way in which the minimum wage is agreed