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23.06.13
12 Deputy L.V. Feltham of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the
development of a health service framework (OQ.119/2023)
Will the Minister provide the Assembly with an update on the development of a health service framework, as outlined in Action MHSS P.3.b.1 of her Ministerial delivery plan?
Deputy K. Wilson of St. Clement (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
As set out in the Ministerial delivery plan, the proposed health service framework is aimed to consist of 3 parts; a framework for community services, primary care and hospital services. On the community services element a gap analysis has been completed and a business case is being developed as part of the 2024 Government Plan. On primary care, following the Assembly’s decisions that activity is underpinning, reform of health and care services should not be funded by the H.I.F. (Health Insurance Fund). The necessary resources are not in place to progress this but work will commence this year, pending availability of funding. On the hospital services Members will be aware that the new healthcare facilities programme of work continues. The hospital services framework is very much aligned to this programme of work and the detail will continue to be further defined over the next few months.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham :
The Ministerial delivery plan states that it was the objective for quarter one to complete the community part of the delivery framework. Can the Minister confirm whether or not that has been completed and if third-sector organisations have been engaged in any consultation on that?
Deputy K. Wilson :
Some elements of it have been delivered and I can provide the Deputy with the actual elements, which have been delivered. We are engaging actively with third-sector providers, particularly in relation to the areas around intermediate care. Again, I can provide some more detail on that as we progress.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
May I ask the Minister how this element of care that we have just mentioned in terms of in the community differs from that element of the Jersey Care Model that delivered a similar approach to healthcare, i.e. getting it out into communities?
Deputy K. Wilson :
I think in principle the development of providing care in the community is the same; I think the funding mechanisms clearly were very different. But we are still committed to providing care closer to home to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and to use the latest technologies to improve that care delivery.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
As part of that care delivery, it would be inevitable that we will need to use the third sector because it has such a large role in delivery of care on our Island. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the third sector are speedily - I cannot think of a better word - enabled to do that?
Deputy K. Wilson :
We have a number of forums and development groups and project planning groups set up and, again, I can provide a list of those to the Deputy that will demonstrate the areas of engagement.
- Deputy L.J. Farnham :
In her quest for improving the health service framework, is the Minister working closely with the Future Hospital - or whatever it is called now - Oversight Group in relation to the provision of facilities to deliver the health service from, including the provision for a separate mental health facility and in a different location?
Deputy K. Wilson :
I thank the Deputy for his question. I think Members will be aware that the new health facilities programme work continues. It is very much aligned to what the Deputy has talked about in terms of the inclusion of mental health facilities as well. I think we have still got a lot to do to start to shape it up. We have been doing the feasibility studies. We are talking to third-sector organisations about their contribution to that. But I think the most important thing is that when we are in a position to be able to specify exactly how and in what way this looks, we will be bringing those proposals to the Assembly.
- Deputy L.V. Feltham :
In the Minister’s answers I heard references to the Government Plan and the future propositions to the Assembly. What I did not hear was when people receiving care, either in hospital or at home, will receive an improvement in services. I am aware that navigating care pathways is extremely difficult through work I have done with constituents and also my own family experience. Can the Minister let the Assembly and people using the healthcare system know when care pathways will be improved and people can expect the types and levels of service that they should be getting?
Deputy K. Wilson :
I thank the Deputy for her question on this. There will be a range of care pathways that we will be putting in place, some of those are in place already. But I think what is more important is for the communication around how those pathways operate and what they are delivering for patients to be more transparent. Again, I think as part of our service strategy, we will provide much more detail and content around how those pathways operate and clearly that will involve the views and opinions expressed by service users on the effectiveness of those pathways.