‘Health hubs’ to form centrepiece of new Jersey healthcare plan
Jersey’s government is playing down concerns the new hospital will not deliver the same range of services as the existing one.
Fears of a downgrade began circulating online after the Health Minister described the proposed new hospital as an “acute” facility, rather than a “general” one.
It comes just days before the new blueprint for healthcare in the island, called the Jersey Care Plan, is discussed by senior politicians before being made public.
It is expected to outline a number of ways to reduce the number of hospital admissions by providing a greater number of services in the community.
One idea being discussed is the creation of a series of “health hubs” around the island which could deal with non-urgent and minor issues, as well as some outpatient appointments.
A government spokesperson said that did not mean the hospital won’t be able to meet future demand.
The government has been working with a range of organisations and interest parties to work up its new plan, including GPs, Family Nursing & Home Care, Jersey Hospice Care and Jersey Citizens Advice.
A new political oversight group that is working on plans for a new hospital is due to meet on Thursday to sign off the plan, which will then be presented to the Council of Ministers for formal approval.
The government is planning to spend £100 million on additional health and well-being initiatives over the next years, as well as £60 million in infrastructure. This is in addition to the spending on a new hospital.
A decision on the location for the build is not expected until September 2020.
A search for a full time project manager to lead it continues, with a politician recently telling ITV News [finding the right person has been difficult because of years of turmoil](http://with a politician recently telling ITV News finding the right person has been difficult because of years of turmoil over previous failed attempts to build a hospital, which was first mooted in 2011.) over previous failed attempts to build a hospital, which was first mooted in 2011.