THE Island’s independent care regulator’s will be one of a number of organisations having to “find ways of tightening the belt”, according to the Health Minister, as the proposed Budget would see it lose £84,000 of funding.
In a Health and Social Security Scrutiny panel hearing, Deputy Beatriz Porée asked Senator Binet if the proposed cuts would impact that ability to regulate the Island’s assisted dying service – which has been approved by the Assembly and is due to come into force next year.
Senator Binet replied: “Hopefully not,” adding that the cuts could be made “without affecting their service”.
In the 2027 budget, the Jersey Care Commission is expected to bring in an income of £379,000, with an expenditure of £2,084,000 and a net revenue expenditure of 1,705,000. It employs the equivalent of 18.3 full-time staff.
When asked what areas may have to be scaled back, Senator Binet said: “£84,000 is £84,000. It’s down to them to apportion those cuts within their organisation to make that saving.”
The decision was made by the Council of Ministers and “not necessarily driven by me”, he added.
He added: “I think you realise that there are a lot of cuts being applied everywhere and everybody is having to try and look internally to find ways of tightening the belt.”
Assisted dying, when it is implemented, will fall under the Care Commission’s remit, which has previously published a set of standards for the service. The commission will inspect the assisted dying service annually and provide “ongoing oversight” and would have the power to sanction or suspend services if necessary.
Deputy Porée also asked how funding for the assisted dying service would be reported, “so proper scrutiny to the expenditure can take place”.
Hazel Cunningham, the Health Department’s strategic director for finance and commercial, said there was a dedicated amount of money set aside for the assisted dying service.
The service is expected to have the equivalent of three full-time staff, spread between roles like a pharmacist, doctors and administrative support staff.
