A SCHEME which helps lower-income Islanders to access healthcare could be expanded to around 1,300 more pensioners, if proposals from the social security minister are approved. Deputy Lyndsay Feltham is calling for eligibility for the Pension Plus Scheme – which helps lower-income pensioners with the costs of optical, dental and chiropody treatment – to be […]
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New scheme offers free GP visits for full-time students
FULL-time students will now be able to visit their GP free of charge as part of a new scheme launched by the Social Security Minister yesterday. The initiative, funded through the Health Insurance Fund, covers standard consultation fees for students at local secondary schools, Highlands College and those registered with Student Finance. It means that […]
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“Real value” of Social Security Fund maintained despite Covid and inflation
THE Social Security Fund has “maintained itself in real value” over the past four years despite inflationary pressures, a senior Treasury official has said amid concerns over the long-term implications of plans to reduce the amount paid into it. The matter was discussed by the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel during a hearing with […]
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Panel backs increased compensation for workplace discrimination
A SCRUTINY panel has praised plans to increase the maximum compensation for employer discrimination as a way to “support vulnerable employees”. The Health and Social Security Panel has published comments on a proposition lodged by Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham. Deputy Feltham proposed amendments to Jersey’s employment and discrimination legislation last month. The changes were […]
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Pay rise for ministers set to be debated in Assembly this week
A MOVE to increase the salaries of politicians who take on additional responsibility as ministers or chairs of Scrutiny panels is among the propositions scheduled to come before the States Assembly. Deputy Jonathan Renouf is seeking to change the existing law stating that all States Members must earn the same amount, currently £57,300 per year, […]
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Cost of some health appointments reduced by £10
THE cost of certain health appointments has been reduced by £10, the government has announced. Appointments with nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, health care assistants – and telephone consultations with GPs – will all be cheaper, in a move which came into force this month. The government announcement follows previous reductions in the cost of face-to-face GP […]
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JEP campaign launched amid calls to scrap “ludicrous” carer’s benefit rule
THE government is facing growing calls to scrap a “ludicrous” rule which prevents a home carer’s allowance from being received alongside an old age pension – as the JEP launches its campaign to change the decades-old law. The ‘Time to Care’ campaign will seek to highlight the struggle of those being placed in what support […]
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Free GP visits for students due to launch implementation
FREE GP visits for students are “in the final stages of implementation”, Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham has confirmed. The scheme, providing free visits for those up to the age of 17, was extended to cover full-time students in higher education when States Members backed Reform Jersey Deputy Carina Alves’ Government Plan amendment in December. […]
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Review of legislation after conviction of paramedics
A REVIEW of existing health and safety legislation is to take place following the conviction of two paramedics, the Social Security Minister has said. During question time in the States Assembly, Deputy Helen Miles asked the minister, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, whether she was happy that the conviction of John Sutherland and Tom Le Sauteur demonstrated […]
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Lack of formal recognition for unpaid carers “extremely disappointing”
JERSEY’S government needs to urgently recognise the role of unpaid carers in the Island, a support network has said, amid wider calls to make more support available to those looking after loved ones. In a statement, Carers Jersey said it was “extremely disappointing that there is no established proven recognition or genuine acknowledgment of unpaid […]
