The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
2025.05.13
2.14 Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier Central of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding financial support for accompanying persons in instances where the patient does not fall into the criteria set out in the Patient Travel and Related Costs Policy (OQ.108/2025):
Question
Where Islanders have no alternative but to attend a hospital in the UK for treatment, will the Minister advise what options are available for financial support for accompanying persons in instances where the patient does not fall into the criteria set out in the Patient Travel and Related Costs Policy?
Answer
Health and Care Jersey's current Patient Travel and Related Costs Policy will cover travel costs (flight, public transport or, if appropriate, taxi or hire car) of one relative or friend escorting a patient if the patient is under 18, over 75, or has a clinically assessed need. If not, the patient escort must pay their own way. For urgent travel within 24 hours, the Travel Office will book travel if payment is made up front.
The current policy does not extend to paying for food and accommodation. It is generally the case that patients needing additional escorts, or accommodation for those escorts, can seek charity funding.
I have, however, asked officers to make an interim change to the policy to state that we may fund patient escort accommodation, in addition to travel, where:
• both the patient and patient escort are from income support households
• the referring consultant has confirmed that a patient escort is clinically required, and
• the cost of accommodation is less than the cost of providing two return flights for the patient escort (ie. Jersey / UK flights to escort patient to the UK and back from the UK)