CALLS have been made for “robust” health data after new figures showed that Emergency Department attendances for overdoses and poisoning among women have risen almost fivefold since 2019.
The Health Department recorded 125 attendances involving females aged 16 to 65 last year, compared with 26 in 2019.
However, changes to the way information is recorded mean it remains unclear what is driving the increase – or whether an apparent collapse in mental-health attendances reflects the true level of demand.
Deputy Louise Doublet called for the figures, which were published following a freedom-of-information request, to be scrutinised and questioned whether the rise was linked to changes in data collection.
“Having robust data is critical for policy-makers to understand where the problems are so that taxpayer money can be channelled to where it is most needed,” the former health scrutineer said.
Overdose and poisoning attendances rose from 26 in 2019 to 29 in 2020 and 46 in 2021, before falling to 38 in 2022. They then climbed to 81 in 2023 and 125 in both 2024 and 2025.
The category includes all drugs and medications but excludes medication-induced side effects. The figures count Emergency Department attendances rather than individual patients, meaning the same woman may have been recorded more than once.
Meanwhile, recorded mental-health attendances fell from 410 in 2019 to 28 last year – but Health warned that this should not necessarily be interpreted as a fall in demand.
A new patient administration system was introduced in May 2023, meaning some information is no longer captured or reported in the same way.
Health said differences between annual figures could “reflect changes in data availability and recording practices rather than changes in service demand”.
Deputy Doublet said mental health “surely” required greater investment and should be taken seriously as the Women’s Health Strategy is developed.
“This should be a live document that can flex with data trends on mental or other areas, and it is essential that the strategy is adequately funded,” she said.
Kate Wright, chief executive of domestic-abuse charity Freeda, cautioned against making assumptions about why women attended the Emergency Department, but said it was “entirely reasonable” to consider the wider pressures behind some cases.
“Domestic abuse, sexual violence, trauma, poor mental health, substance use and physical ill health can overlap in complex ways,” she said.
Health was unable to provide separate figures for sexual assault because it is not distinctly categorised in the central record system.
Mrs Wright called for clear referral pathways, strong links with specialist services and follow-up support.
“The figures cannot establish causation, but they should prompt thoughtful questions about what women’s A&E attendances may be telling us – and whether every contact is being used as an opportunity to recognise vulnerability, offer support and prevent further harm,” she added.
Following queries from the JEP, the States of Jersey Police confirmed it had not seen a “specific increase” in overdose or poisoning incidents involving women, with most cases being medical and not requiring officers.
However, a spokesperson said cocaine remained the illicit drug most commonly encountered in Jersey, with enforcement activity focused on its importation, supply and distribution due to the “significant harms” associated with the Class A drug.
“While we continue to monitor drug-related harm and offending across Jersey, the figures referenced do not reflect any particular trend that police are seeing in relation to women specifically,” they added.
“More broadly, however, the widespread availability and use of cocaine remains one of the key drug-related challenges facing the Island and continues to be a priority area for law enforcement activity.”
