During a Scrutiny hearing, Health Minister Richard Renouf confirmed that plans for an opt-out organ-donation system were due to be brought into law through an appointed day act that should be passed on 1 July.
Last April States Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of his predecessor Andrew Green’s proposals to introduce the scheme, which aims to tackle Jersey’s low donation rate.
The scheme will be a ‘soft opt-out’ version, where doctors will continue to discuss the matter with a potential donor’s next of kin, who will still retain the right to veto donations.
When quizzed by Deputy Kevin Pamplin on when the scheme would be introduced, Deputy Renouf said: ‘We wish to bring the changes into effect from 1 July. My understanding is we will lodge [the appointed day act] in April.’
A member of the minister’s team confirmed that regulations for a register of Islanders, and mechanisms so that they can opt out as organ donors, were due to be lodged next month and debated in June.
During the hearing of the Health and Social Security Panel, the minister was also asked how recent pay disputes in the public sector had affected staff morale in his department.
Nursing staff are among a number of States employee groups who are locked in a long-running battle with the States Employment Board after receiving below-inflation pay rises for 2018 and 2019.
‘Morale is affected by so many things. Obviously the pay dispute has that debilitating effect on morale,’ the minister said.
‘Some people say that they don’t feel valued by the employer which is, of course, not the case. We do value our staff tremendously.’
He added that some recent engagement with staff over remodelling the workforce had helped to improve morale.
‘I think morale has also been lifted over the past months by new ways of working, and the consultation that has taken place on the target operating model,’ he said.
‘Staff have been able to see new ways of working which emboldens them more and allows their views to be heard and passed up to management and higher levels.’
