A BACKBENCHER is calling for the government to provide a one-off “bridging grant” of £200,000 to the Jersey Cheshire Home to help it continue operating amid rising costs.
St Helier Deputy Inna Gardiner has lodged an amendment to the government’s Budget.
She argued it would cost the Health Department as much as £9 million to deliver the services provided by the residential facility, which cares for adults with disabilities and is facing “significant financial challenges”.
She has warned that, if the Jersey Cheshire Home is unable to sustain its current level of care, more pressure will be placed on the Hospital.
Her amendment to the government’s proposed spending plans asks that an additional £200,000 of funding from the Health and Social Services budget will be given to the Jersey Cheshire Home “to provide for one year of bridging funding to ensure provision of services in 2025”.
“Jersey Cheshire Home faces significant financial challenges in sustaining its essential services for disabled Islanders,” Deputy Gardiner wrote in her accompanying report.
She continued: “Although JCH has worked to increase income through strategic initiatives, such as expanding capacity with additional rooms, the rising costs of service delivery have created ongoing financial pressures.
“From 2021 to 2023, operating expenses surged by 14.8% due to inflation, increased staffing costs, and maintenance expenses, with inflationary pressures further exacerbating these challenges.”
Deputy Gardiner added: “While JCH has managed to increase resident income by 22.9% over the same period, covering approximately 76.8% of expenses by 2023, this still leaves a substantial funding gap that relies on donations, investment income, and reserves to cover annual deficits.
“Additionally, the charity must invest continuously in specialised equipment, facilities, and training to meet the complex needs of its residents, which further stretches its financial resources, the Long-Term Care provision simply does not cover the cost to deliver the services provided.”
Her report stressed that the Jersey Cheshire Home is “heavily dependent” on external funding to sustain its operations and maintain high-quality care.
“Without additional financial assistance, JCH will struggle to continue providing its unique, intensive level of care for disabled Islanders and as a direct result their care will suffer, and it will place even more pressure on the Hospital.”
Deputy Gardiner concluded: “In summary, Jersey Cheshire Home is an irreplaceable asset to the Island’s disabled community, providing essential services that empower residents, alleviate family burdens, and enhance the lives of disabled people across Jersey.
“They are not receiving any financial support to run the services, which is placing great pressure on its survival.”
Deputy Gardiner argued that supporting the Jersey Cheshire Home financially would help ensure a greater burden is not placed on the Health Department, which she estimated would cost the public purse “between £3 million and £9 million more to deliver”.
“If left unaddressed, the shortfall will affect the long-term financial stability of JCH.
“Should JCH no longer be able to provide care to these individuals – not only will some residents lose their long-term home and care, but there are no other comparable care providers on the Island,” Deputy Gardiner added.
“Instead, the Health Department will incur many millions in additional costs to UK providers.”
