INDEPENDENT inspections of the Hospital and other healthcare facilities could begin next year if the government brings its laws on regulation in line with other jurisdictions.
Environment Minister Steve Luce has launched a public consultation, running alongside the Jersey Care Commission’s own consultation, on amendments to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 which would come into force before the end of 2025 if passed by the Assembly.
The changes would make the regulation and inspection of Jersey’s Hospital and Ambulance Service independent for the first time, and would require these services to register with the Jersey Care Commission.
The new Enid Quénault Health and Wellbeing Centre, mental-health services, dental services, hospice and the Assisted Reproduction Unit would all come under the regulation.
The expansion of the commission’s remit is a continuation of a long-term project which began in 2014.
The proposals, which have been worked on since 2022, will bring Jersey into line with most other jurisdictions in the British Isles, where independent regulation and inspection has been part of the care sector for many years.
Deputy Luce said: “We’re regulating care homes now, but we need to keep moving and expanding. Services need to be regulated to keep people safe and make sure they are getting the good quality care that they need.”
He continued: “We want to introduce more openness and honesty between those giving care and those receiving it.
“The commission will be charged to inspect all hospital services within three years, and inspect the Ambulance Service annually, to comply with the regulations.
“We’re going to start these inspections by the middle of next year, inspecting whatever is being provided at the time, as new ones come online and old ones are phased out.
“There’s no doubt that there are some challenges with old historical buildings we use at moment, and we will address those when they come up, and if there are changes to be made.”
Some of the possible changes to the law, he explained, were around how support services interact with relatives, friends and visitors; the possible introduction of a statutory offence applying to those who have breached the requirements relating to the quality of premises they are providing; and updating how funding is given, annual reporting and audit requirements.
The draft changes also amend the eligibility criteria for someone appointed as a care commissioner, including the introduction of a maximum nine-year term limit.
Deputy Luce said: “It is always important that commissioners have enough time to get used to the Jersey system, but at the same time, it’s important that people don’t get too comfortable.
“A fresh set of eyes and new blood every once in a while is important to ensure we do not miss anything.”
While this expansion would cover most health and social care in the Island, Deputy Luce said private hospitals, charity-provided hospitals, and the services which prescribe medicinal cannabis would still fall outside the remit.
