Care bosses in Jersey say health system is unfair on agency workers

• Hannah Ludlow speaks to one care worker from Zimbabwe who is worried about the lack of healthcare support

Care bosses in Jersey say more needs to be done to look after agency workers.

In a sector already struggling for staff, they argue high cost of healthcare is making things worse.

Those who are employed on temporary work permits must currently wait six months before they can access free treatment and subsidised doctors' appointments.

"These people are looking after our most vulnerable on the island," Cheryl Kenealy, head of the Jersey Care Federation explained.

"Often there are infections they can pick up from their clients and not being able to access a GP or medication is a little bit unfair for them I think."

One worker from Zimbabwe, Rodrick Bango, says he fears for his health until he finally reaches the six-month mark and believes it is the biggest drawback of working in Jersey.

"When you get to a new place, there are so many things that you would expect to get assistance and I think healthcare is one of them," he explained.

"Because of the kind of work we are doing, it requires us to stay sharp mentally, physically and emotionally and we would really be more than happy to have that kind of support from the government."

Jersey's government is working to reduce the six-month window for hospital treatment for all new arrivals, but it's worried that a change could spark so-called 'health tourism'.

"There's a delicate balance between making sure that the offer in Jersey is appropriate for the needs of the community, and making it too easy for someone to come to Jersey just because we've got a great healthcare system," Jersey's Assistant Social Security Minister, Deputy Malcolm Ferey said.