Reallocating funding for carers' respite rejected

Politicians have rejected plans to take funding away from the future assisted dying service and put it towards respite care.

Deputy Karen Wilson asked politicians to accept a budget amendment that would see £525,000 go towards providing respite breaks for carers.

Nine politicians voted in favour of reallocating funding from a future assisted dying service, with 31 voting against it.

States members additionally voted on whether funding for respite care should be increased by £525,000 but this was also rejected with only eight politicians voting in favour of it.

During the debate Wilson said: "Respite care remains chronically underfunded.

"I ask members to think carefully about the political choices we make here today."

The Social Security Minister, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham said: "It is unclear how giving funding to health and care jersey will help resolve issues with respite, it's already funded by the Long Term Care Fund."

However, the minister admitted the government needed to do a better job of making carers aware of what support was available in the Long Term Care Fund.

Feltham said: "I'm trying to clarify people's understanding of how that fund works."

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