Minister calls for health budget to be increased

Jersey’s health minister wants the departmental budget to be increased by 5% more than inflation for the next few years

Jersey’s health minister has called for an increase to the island’s health funding, after a forecast predicted the department would be £18m over budget for 2025.

Jersey’s auditor general, Lynn Pamment, said the rapid rise in spending was a cause for concern and said previous money-saving recommendations had yet to be brought in.

Deputy Tom Binet, the health minister, wants a 5%-above-inflation budget increase for several years, to keep up with the costs of new treatments and people living longer.

He said calling the situation an overspend had damaged staff morale and was “very negative”, as health had not received enough budget in the past.