Health and Wellbeing
“A healthier Jersey starts with prevention“
A Healthier St Helier
As your Constable, health runs through everything I want to do for the Parish. Green spaces, safe streets, community connection and accessible public spaces all contribute to how healthy residents actually are day to day. A Parish that invests in parks, culture, community support and safe neighbourhoods is a Parish that invests in health.
Where Are We Now?
In 2022 I made a number of health commitments. Some have been delivered. Others remain unfinished. And new priorities have emerged that were not on the agenda four years ago.
What I have Delivered
The two commitments I am most proud of are both now a reality.
Free GP appointments for children are now available in Jersey something I campaigned for from my first day in the States.
Hot, nutritious school meals are now being provided in our primary schools. Both of these were priorities I set out in 2022 and both have been delivered.
I also helped secure a playground at La Pouquelaye, supported green and activity spaces through the GROW Project, and proposed and secured Jersey’s Ageing-Friendly Infrastructure Framework, wider pavements, better crossings and accessible design that benefits everyone, not just older residents.
The Hospital
In 2022 I raised concerns about whether the case for the Overdale site had been properly made.
The decision has since been taken and the new hospital is proceeding at Overdale. My focus now is on ensuring that the process is managed responsibly with construction traffic and disruption properly coordinated, residents along key routes kept informed, and road safety on affected streets strengthened throughout the build.
A new hospital is essential for Jersey’s future.
How we get there matters too.
What I Will Continue to Push For
Good health should not depend on how much money you have. I will continue to push for accessible, affordable primary care for all residents building on the principle behind free GP appointments for children and extending it further where possible, particularly for older residents and those on lower incomes.
Jersey must also invest more seriously in prevention. Too much of our health spending goes on treating conditions that could have been caught earlier or avoided altogether. I will push for stronger public health programmes, better screening, and early intervention services that reach people before problems escalate.
Women’s Health
Women’s health has for too long been underfunded and underestimated. I will advocate for better access to menopause support and clearer pathways through primary care, improved perinatal and postnatal mental health services, faster and more accessible cervical and breast screening, and greater clinical recognition of conditions that disproportionately affect women.
Women should not have to fight to be taken seriously by health services.
Longevity and Healthy Ageing
Jersey’s population is ageing and that demands intelligent long-term planning.
People living longer, healthier and more independent lives is good for individuals, families and our public finances. I will push for a stronger focus on healthy ageing across Government health strategy, expanded community-based support, better integration between health and social care, and investment in falls prevention and cognitive health.
The Ageing-Friendly Infrastructure Framework I secured is one practical contribution but there is much more to do.
Mental Health
Mental health is health. Waiting times for mental health support in Jersey remain too long, and stigma still prevents people from asking for help early. I will continue to push for reduced waiting times, better community-based support including social prescribing, and mental health awareness in schools, workplaces and Parish life.
Social and Activity Spaces
Outside of school, there are not enough playgrounds for children. This lack of outdoor space could encourage many children to spend hours inside on the computer and other electronic devices, rather than outside engaging with the physical activity which is important for health, growth and development. I believe we need more playgrounds in St Helier.
I support Health Promotion and Prescription for Health.
I support the work carried out by the Health Promotion and Prescription for Health team. I will push for proactive solutions as part of a long term health solution.
We need to ensure that there are enough General Practitioners.
I am told that those new to the Island can have difficulty in finding a GP practice able to accommodate them. I see the need to create a record of the spaces available for new patients. If the number of spaces available is not enough to accommodate our permanent and seasonal population we need to increase the number of GP’s