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WQ.160/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY H.L. JEUNE OF ST. JOHN, ST. LAWRENCE AND TRINITY
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 7th APRIL 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 14th APRIL 2025
Question
"Will the Minister share a timeline for the introduction of legislation placing a statutory duty on the Minister to provide palliative care and end-of-life care, including when it will be brought to the Assembly, and will the Minister also outline –
- the key provisions of this duty and explain how it will enhance the quality and accessibility of care; and
- how he plans to ensure that sufficient funding and resources are allocated to implement this duty effectively, given that it is linked to the delivery of the Assisted Dying Law;
and if no such provision for palliative care is due to be included, will the Minister explain why not?" Answer
Government is actively enhancing the quality and accessibility of palliative and end-of-life care in Jersey through delivery of the initiatives set out in the Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy. Just over £3 million per year additional monies are being invested in these initiatives (as agreed in the 2023 Government Plan). I will be providing to the Assembly (no later than September 2025):
• evidence of the quality and availability of palliative and end of life care in Jersey
• a timeline for the continued improvement of palliative and end of life beyond 2026, which is the end date for the existing strategy.
This information will help inform the debate on the draft assisted dying law (planned for November 2025) and accords with a recommendation from the Assisted Dying Scrutiny Review Panel.
When debating the draft assisted dying law, the Assembly will be asked to agree, in principle, that the assisted dying law should not be brought into force until the Assembly is satisfied that the additional £3 million being invested in end of life and palliative care each year is, in fact, supporting improvements in quality and availability of services.
I anticipate that the legislation that places a statutory duty on the Health and Social Services Minister to provide end of life and palliative care services will form part of the Council of Ministers' 2026 legislative programme.
1 A Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy For Adults in Jersey