Introduction of the Jersey care Model

22.01.18

14 Deputy I. Gardiner of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the

introduction of the Jersey care Model (OQ.5/2022)

Will the Minister advise whether any public engagement initiatives are planned for 2022 in relation to the introduction of the Jersey Care Model, and if not, why not?

The Deputy of St. Ouen (The Minister for Health and Social Services):

Yes, happy to confirm that initiatives are planned for 2022. They will take a variety of forms. They may need to be revised depending on the COVID situation of the time but I hope that is going to not affect things. The team working on the model recognise the importance of engaging with Islanders in all sorts of ways about this important project to ensure as many people as possible know about the progress of the model and what stage it is at, an early stage as yet. In particular, we are aware not every Islander has easy access to digital methods of receiving information so there will be non- digital and digital means. This will include so many things: face-to-face meetings in, for example, Parish Hall s, there will be static or online exhibitions, there will be leaflet drops, there will be presentations to groups of people, videos posted, articles, advertising and regular updates on gov.je. In particular we note that the public meetings for 2019 were particularly well-attended and were a valuable opportunity. If we can do so in line with COVID restrictions, we aim to run a minimum of 4 public meetings prior to May 2022 to update Islanders. I would very much like to be part of that while I am still in this position as Minister. So that is our hope and will take all COVID measures needed to ensure they can go ahead safely.

1. Senator T.A. Vallois:

I would like to ask the Minister whether he believes that the public understand exactly what the Jersey Care Model is and what it means for them individually from certain medial perspectives?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

I believe that the public understand that it is important to deliver more care in the community, because I think we all know that healthcare needs to change because people are no longer dying from disease but instead they are living longer with long-term conditions. That means we cannot rely on the secondary service to treat us in wards anymore because it is about managing conditions which now help. That is best done in the community; I think the public do recognise that and give support to that.

2. Senator T.A. Vallois:

With regard to the Jersey Care Model, does the Minister believe what he has just stated that those with long-term conditions have the availability and the initiative and understanding in terms of how to work within an economy that we work in, in Jersey, in terms of living, their life expectancy and their requirements around management of their conditions considering the cost of care, particularly with regards to primary care in our model of Health and Social Services?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

That is a long question. So many people living with long-term conditions can access help from primary care but from family nursing, from a charitable provision, from specialist clinics in secondary care. So those with long-term conditions can get a feel for what is available. We have only concluded the first year of a 5-year programme, which is the Jersey Care Model, so there is much work still to do. As to the costs of accessing services, well it is primary care principally, that is the issue here, is it not?

[15:45]

The primary care providers are part of the Jersey Care Model, they are working with us to deliver these services in the best way for the Island and we are coming forward with proposals for sustainable healthcare and work is being carried out on that this year with a view to it coming before the next Council of Ministers and being incorporated in a future Government Plan. So these issues are known and are being worked through.

3. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

Before the public engagement can go further, can I ask the Minister that the independent Chair that has been delayed being appointed has now been put in place before any further public communication can go forward?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

Yes, that will be in place. The chair has been appointed and the Scrutiny Panel, including Deputy Pamplin, will be invited to meet him. I have yet to meet him. The process has taken much longer than we all anticipated due to reasons that have been given to the Scrutiny Panel and States Members in previous questions.

4. Deputy K.G. Pamplin:

I thank the Minister for the news and the update. Could he also update us on has there been a specific employment on somebody on to navigate and manage the communication of the Care Model for the public?

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

Yes, we have a comms office within the team that are working on the Jersey Care Model.

5. Deputy G.P. Southern :

Perhaps the Minister for Health and Social Services might recognise who I am talking about when I talk about a constituent who has been told that if she stays in the public sector for a knee scan, a simple knee scan, to work out what is wrong with her knee, then it will take 30 to 40 weeks' waiting. But, if she was to take a private route into accessing that scan, she can do it next Sunday.

The Bailiff :

I am sorry, Deputy , that is nothing to do with the question that is the main question, which is to do with public engagement in connection with the Jersey Care Model. It has nothing to do with specific cases or waiting lists or anything like that I am afraid. I have to rule that question out of order.

Deputy G.P. Southern :

I accept your judgement, thank you. The point is made.

6. Deputy I. Gardiner :

I would like to follow up with the Minister what his response is that the public accept the Jersey Care Model and they need to move to the community. I would raise the Minister's attention that during the public hearing on 17th June with the Public Accounts Committee, the Director General for Housing and Communities firstly agrees that the public is confused and even fear the Jersey Care Model. Would the Minister explain where is his evidence the public accepted and welcomed the Jersey Care Model? It is not about the Jersey Care Model, it is about the public perception.

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

What I am trying to say is that the public accept the premise behind the Jersey Care Model; the name of it perhaps does not matter. It could be called something else. But the premise is that more care needs to be delivered in the community; that people are living with longer-term conditions and they need to live independently. We want to give them that support. I think that is increasingly being understood. So I hope that answers the Deputy 's question.