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WQ.359/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2023
Question
“Regarding the 3 options for sustainable health funding outlined on page 96 of the Proposed Government Plan 2024-2027, will the Minister provide details on the following –
- how each of the options will be financed;
- how the Government will engage with healthcare providers; and
- what reforms are proposed for the Health Insurance Fund?”
Answer
Page 96 of the Government Plan states that options related to future funding of our whole health and care system will be developed during 2024, and that three factors will be taken into account when developing those options: the future funding of health and care services (who pays); the financing of health and care services (how do we raise the money) and contracting (how do we engage our providers to deliver better value). Those three factors are not presented as options in or of themselves.
The development of future funding options which are relevant to Jersey’s unique circumstances is scheduled to continue over the entirety of 2023 and as described in the Government Plan, will continue into 2024. At the point at which potential options have been developed, the Minister for Health and Social Services is committed to ensuring they are subject to public and provider consultation.
In response to the questions (a) to (c):
- ‘how each of the options will be financed’
Each of the options that are developed will clearly set out how they will be financed - as financing is clearly a key component of any option. The financing details will be shared by Ministers when available.
- ‘how the Government will engage with healthcare providers’
The format for consultation is dependent in part on the scale of change envisaged in particular options, the details of which are not yet known. Ministers are, however, agreed that a period of consultation with both providers and the public is required before any final proposition is developed for the Assembly.
- ‘what reforms are proposed for the Health Insurance Fund?
It is likely that some of the options will impact the Health Insurance Fund to some extent, but as detailed above, this is not yet known.