THE Health Minister has defended a new health board in the wake of strong criticism about its cost.
After former Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan cited the “indefensible misuse of taxpayers money” spent on the Health Advisory Board as a key factor in his decision to resign from government, Deputy Karen Wilson said she believed the board would bring about improvements to the health service.
Deputy Wilson said: “The noise and controversy we’ve heard comes from the same voices, but the feedback I have had has been hugely positive.
“The board is made up of pretty eminent people who know the business of healthcare and bring experience and energy – I have no doubt that this will lead to much better outcomes.”
The Health Minister, who said she felt fully supported by colleagues in the Council of Ministers, cited several areas in which improvements had already been achieved.
These, she said, included the recruitment of more than 100 clinicians, the reduction of waiting times for MRI scans – due to have fallen from 52 weeks to six by the end of this year – and realising £3 million in financial efficiencies.
During question time in the States Assembly yesterday, Chief Minister Kristina Moore was asked by Deputy Moz Scott to elaborate on the concerns about Health expressed by Mr Jehan in his resignation letter, having stated in her response that she was also concerned.
She said: “My concerns about the Health Department are those of most Islanders – if we can’t treat our sick, then we might as well pack up and go home.”
Deputy Moore said her government had inherited a position of “uncontrolled spending” in Health, and was working to bring the budget under control.
The JEP reported yesterday that Health’s financial reserves had depleted to an “extraordinarily low” level.
Carolyn Downs, a former chief executive of Brent Council in London who now sits on the Health Advisory Board as a non-executive director, told the board that if her former council was in the same position it would be declared bankrupt.
The department is also forecast to spend over £25 million on agency staff this year.
In the States, the Chief Minister also defended the appointment of former health chief officer Julie Garbutt as a non-executive director for the board, expressing confidence in the Jersey Appointments Commission, which recommended Mrs Garbutt.
“I want to deal with policies, not personalities,” Deputy Moore said. “We were keen to get a local candidate and have someone with a wealth of expertise and knowledge of the system.”
Mrs Garbutt left her post five years ago with a £187,000 pay-off in a government shake-up.
It has also been confirmed that interim board chair Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor has been given a one-month extension to his position, for which he has earned more than £250,000 in the past 12 months at a rate of £1,440 per day, while the appointment of a permanent chair is finalised.
Deputy Wilson said: “We failed to appoint the right candidate, which means we have had to go out [to recruitment] again, and I’ve been given an assurance that this is possible before 22 December [the revised end date for the interim chair’s contract].”
Deputy Wilson also clarified the new role of Deputy Philip Ozouf, who was made an Assistant Health Minister by Chief Minister Kristina Moore in this week’s reshuffle of her ministerial team.
After several recent meetings between health representatives from Jersey and Guernsey, Deputy Wilson said Deputy Ozouf would use his experience in external relations to continue collaborative work between the islands and achieve mutually beneficial health partnerships.
