THE richest 30% of Jersey patients could soon be forced to pay for their own travel off the Island and accommodation for medical treatment under proposals due to be unveiled this week.
Documents published ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the Health Advisory Board reveal that the department is considering a significant tightening of rules governing access to publicly funded healthcare benefits — including new charges for some emergency treatment and hospital stays.
The Policy Revisions and Implementation report outlines draft policies and new legal powers, warning: “Healthcare costs are rising and Health and Care Jersey must ensure that finite public funding is used fairly and directed to the Islanders who need care.”
At the centre of the plans is a proposal to reintroduce income testing for patients referred to the UK for treatment.
Currently, all public patients referred to the UK for treatment receive free travel and accommodation. But under a draft travel and accommodation policy for non-Jersey treatment, that universal entitlement would end and pre-2017 income testing would be reintroduced.
Around 70% of patients would still have their travel and accommodation fully funded. However, higher-income households would be expected to pay part or all of these costs.
Treatment itself would remain fully funded for eligible public patients, regardless of any requirement to self-fund travel and accommodation.
The report warns that, without change, travel and accommodation costs will “continue to exceed budget” – potentially forcing cuts or restrictions elsewhere in the health service.
The document also reveals that law drafting instructions have been prepared to allow charges for patients who are medically fit to leave hospital but choose to remain.
Patients would be granted a five-working-day grace period to make arrangements to leave. After that, daily charges would apply – costing £965 for a private patient bed, £650 for a private room on a shared ward, and £450 for an acute bed on a shared ward.
The stated aim is to “improve bed capacity and so be able to treat more patients”.
Without change, the report cautions, “delays that arise when discharge-ready patients choose to remain in hospital will continue to reduce bed capacity, resulting in non-admission of other patients awaiting treatment and extending waits for elective care”.
And under a draft publicly funded healthcare eligibility policy, visitors who have “not made a social or economic contribution to the Island” would be required to pay for emergency treatment – unless covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement, such as with the UK.
The report explains: “Emergency treatment would be provided whenever clinically necessary, but it would be chargeable if the patient does not meet the criteria.
“These ‘ineligible’ persons would continue to be strongly advised to take out medical or travel insurance when in Jersey.”
New non-working residents would have to pay for emergency care until they have lived in Jersey for 12 consecutive months. However, those who are in Jersey on a temporary work permit would be provided with free necessary healthcare.
If no action is taken, “Jersey will continue to expend resources through the provision of
free care to individuals who have not made an economic or social contribution to the Island”, according to the report.
Board members have been asked to provide comments to Health Minister for a decision on the changes.
