Latest news with #healthoverspend
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Jersey's health minister asked to explain £28m budget hole
A scrutiny panel has written an "urgent letter" to Jersey's health minister demanding answers to why the department is comes after the publication of the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts, which revealed the Health Department overspent by £28m in the 2023-2024 financial year, and is forecast to be in deficit once again the year Louise Doublet, chair of the Health and Social Security Panel, has formally asked Deputy Tom Binet to explain where the extra spending had gone and what financial oversight there would is expecting a response by 16 May. The BBC has approached Binet for a comment. 'Significant pressure' Concerns were raised last week by Jersey's Public Accounts Committee, which questioned why there was a deficit when the health budget had increased by nearly £100m since the time, Minister for Treasury and Resources Deputy Elaine Millar said it was not bad management and that the health overspend was not a problem unique to Louise Doublet, said, despite understanding there was "significant pressure on spending across government departments", she said money had to be used "appropriately".She said: "Spending cannot be unlimited and there have been overspends within health for several years now."During a recent hearing, the minister told the panel that he would need more funding for his department and may seek to secure funding from the strategic reserve for this.""The panel will be scrutinising this to be sure that funds are being used appropriately."It is crucial that we, and the public, understand what the main factors in these overspends are, how the minister is working to control costs, and how the budget is being future-proofed moving forward."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Answers needed on health overspend, says deputy
The head of Jersey's Public Accounts Committee says answers are needed on why there is an overspend in the health department. Deputy Inna Gardiner's comments follow the publication of the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts which showed the government's consolidated fund - essentially its current account - was in deficit, in part, because of extra health spending. Gardiner said: "We need to establish if there is an inherent structural deficit in health or if it's a case of bad management of money." Minister for Treasury and Resources Deputy Elaine Millar, who oversees all government spending, said it was not bad management and the health overspend was not a problem unique to Jersey. However, Gardiner said questions needed to be asked as the health budget had increased by nearly £100m since 2022. She said: "We are all aware that the health department overspent in excess of £30m year after year after year. "The health department budget in 2022 approved by the States Assembly was £226m. The budget approved for 2025 was £322m and we are already hearing that in 2025 the budget was constrained and they are going to overspend. "So we need to understand what is happening there and how money can be spent wisely within the department." Millar said: "We have had to invest more into our health care spending and we are not alone in doing that. "The cost of sending people off-island for specialist care, prescriptions are becoming more expensive and it's down to the nature of the population. "So we have had to spend more on health and we've had to take money from contingency to meet those costs." She added: "I don't think it's bad management of money... everyone is seeing healthcare costs going up, jurisdictions have ageing populations and we need to make sure we can provide services to our whole community." On 30 April, in a meeting with the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said he would need more money for health during the next few years. Binet told the panel: "I'll be coming to the assembly to ask for money to improve preventative health care, and women's health issues will come into that and digital connectivity. "We will need in excess of £100m over five years and I want that additional money, I don't care where it comes from, even if it's from the strategic reserve." However, Millar said using the strategic reserve fund was not something that had been discussed. Millar said: "The strategic reserve fund is there for a number of reasons. "It's not a piggy bank that you can just draw on at will. But, clearly, we will look to how we fund health. "Jersey has a reputation for prudent financial management, and it's essential we continue that reputation, that we spend money wisely and we use money from the right sources to fund all our expenditure needs." Binet said Health had been facing "unprecedented demands, cost increases for drugs and off-island care - all running well above inflation and additional service requirements". He said "studious efforts" had been made over the past two years "to implement savings measures in many areas, with quite a high degree of success". "We require a large investment in both preventative health care and digital services over the next five years in order to improve efficiency and help reduce costs, and I have been clear about my intention to take a proposition to this effect to the assembly in the next few months," he said. "I have also stated, publicly, that I intend to hold a public consultation on the possibility of introducing some charges, in some areas of health provision, before the end of this parliament." Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Health budget needs extra £24m a year - minister £28m health shortfall forecast for end of the year Government of Jersey
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Answers needed on Jersey health overspend, says deputy
Answers needed on health overspend, says deputy 14 minutes ago Share Save Ammar Ebrahim • aebrahim93 BBC Jersey political reporter Share Save BBC Deputy Inna Gardiner said answers were needed on why there was a consistent overspend in health The head of Jersey's Public Accounts Committee says answers are needed on why there is an overspend in the health department. Deputy Inna Gardiner's comments follow the publication of the States of Jersey Annual Report and Accounts which showed the government's consolidated fund - essentially its current account - was in deficit, in part, because of extra health spending. She said "we need to establish if there is an inherent structural deficit in health or if it's a case of bad management of money". Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar, who oversees all government spending, said it was not bad management and the health overspend was not a problem unique to Jersey. 'Spent wisely' However, Gardiner said questions needed to be asked as the health budget had increased by nearly £100m since 2022. She said: "We are all aware that the health department overspent in excess of £30m year after year after year. "The health department budget in 2022 approved by the States Assembly was £226m. The budget approved for 2025 was £322m and we are already hearing that in 2025 the budget was constrained and they are going to overspend. "So we need to understand what is happening there and how money can be spent wisely within the department." The health minister told a scrutiny panel that he would need more money for health in the next few years Millar said: "We have had to invest more into our health care spending and we are not alone in doing that. "The cost of sending people off-island for specialist care, prescriptions are becoming more expensive and it's down to the nature of the population. "So we have had to spend more on health and we've had to take money from contingency to meet those costs." She added: "I don't think it's bad management of money... everyone is seeing healthcare costs going up, jurisdictions have ageing populations and we need to make sure we can provide services to our whole community." On 30 April, in a meeting with the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said he would need more money for health during the next few years. 'Not a piggy bank' Binet told the panel: "I'll be coming to the assembly to ask for money to improve preventative health care, and women's health issues will come into that and digital connectivity. "We will need in excess of £100m over five years and I want that additional money, I don't care where it comes from, even if it's from the strategic reserve." However, Millar said using the strategic reserve fund was not something that had been discussed. Millar said: "The strategic reserve fund is there for a number of reasons. "It's not a piggy bank that you can just draw on at will. But, clearly, we will look to how we fund health. "Jersey has a reputation for prudent financial management, and it's essential we continue that reputation, that we spend money wisely and we use money from the right sources to fund all our expenditure needs." Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to
