Healthcare in Jersey

Healthcare in Jersey is provided by a range of publicly and privately owned providers. Jersey does not have a National Health Service and is not part of the UK NHS system. Health matters are overseen by the Department of Health and Community Services in the Government of Jersey. The current Health Minister is Deputy Richard Renouf.
There is a Reciprocal Health Agreement with the United Kingdom, agreed in 2011. It does not cover pre-existing or non-urgent conditions.
History.
Between 1945 and the Queen's coronation in 1952, there were outbreaks of polio and tuberculosis and the opening of the Jersey Maternity hospital and St John Ambulance headquarters. Agriculture was hit by a series of foot-and-mouth outbreaks.
Healthcare system.
Jersey operates a system of health cards. Anyone resident in the island for more than six months is eligible for a health card. Card holders are eligible for subsidised GP appointments and free prescriptions.
The Jersey Care Model (JCM) is the conceptual framework for organising the health system in Jersey. The model is based around a 'three-ring' model: Person-centred Care, Primary and Community Services and Specialist Services.
New hospital debate.
There is a large debate about the construction of a new hospital in Jersey. A States Assembly Proposition (P.82/2012) set out the need for a new hospital in 2012. This has been re-affirmed by the Jersey Care Model published in 2019.
On 13 February 2019, the States Assembly adopted a proposition (P.5/2019) that rescinded the approval of Gloucester Street (the current hospital site) as the site for the Future Hospital. The proposition also rejected the idea that the new hospital should be built at People's Park, Lower Park, Victoria Park, Westmount Gardens or the Parade Gardens. The States voted 39 and 7 the decision. Of the voters included Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf who had previously supported the site, claiming the Gloucester St location had been "straight-jacketed" by the Island Plan. The Chief Minister said it would be "madness" to vote for the Gloucester St site again. The proposition does not rule out the Gloucester Street site, but calls for the restart of the selection process. As a result, a 'significant portion' of the £41 million spent on the project today had to be written off, including the purchasing of a number of buildings on Kensington Place.
In July 2020, the Our Hospital Team published the site shortlist for the new hospital, including five sites: St Andrew's Park; People's Park; Overdale; Five Oaks; and Millbrook Playing Fields. 82 sites had originally be considered by the report team. Notably, St Saviour's Hospital and Warwick Farm were rejected due to being at an "unsustainable" location.
On 17 November 2020, it was approved by the States Assembly that the new hospital would be constructed at Overdale in St Helier. It is expected to cost at least £550 million, but could cost up to £800 million.
On 31 January 2021, Advocate Olaf Blakeley lodged a , an ancient legal device under Jersey law, on behalf of several home owners opposed to the site selection of the hospital. The legal device lanches a vote at a St Helier parish assembly which means the purchase of parish land could be blocked until more information is provided.
On 1 February, the States Assembly approved Westmount Road as the new access route for the hospital. The States voted 34 and 11 the decision. A number of protestors tied ribbons to trees that the protestors claimed would be destroyed by the project. The Government denied that any of them will be affected. Senator Lyndon Farnham, who is the minister responsible for the project, clarified the cost of the proposed road would be £15.1 million.