Improving our state of health

But the level of spending that has been envisaged is already being questioned. The Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny panel, chaired by Deputy Kristina Moore, has expressed concern that the total package on the table might prove to be unaffordable. Although panel members support the ‘broad direction’ of the report, they have made 21 recommendations to fine tune its aims.

These will be treated on their merits by States Members next week, but even if doubts are expressed about the detail of Health’s comprehensive plans, a core truth will remain – doing nothing about health care and allied services is simply not an option.

Members must be aware that factors beyond the control of government mean that health provision must change. The ageing profile of the community means that there will be greater demand for medical and social care. In addition, there will be fewer people in work to pay the tax to fund that care. To complicate matters, the increasing sophistication of medicine will mean that costs go up across the board.

As Health have spelled out in their report – though sometimes in jargon that is almost impenetrable and always unnecessarily irksome – attitudes as well as practices and bricks and mortar will have to change. For example, although the state will continue to be the principal provider of services, there will be much greater reliance on charities and volunteers, the ‘third sector’.

Members will also have to take on board an uncomfortable idea. Until quite recently, Jersey could claim that its health facilities and standards were second to none and could be compared very favourably indeed with those of the National Health Service in the UK. The situation has, alas, shifted, and we are now looking at buildings that are not fit for purpose, staff shortages potential and actual, and the prospect of matters deteriorating.

How exactly government deals with all this might still be open to question, but next week the House must, at all costs, signal its approval for change capable of meeting the Island’s needs for decades to come.