GUERNSEY, Jersey and Isle of Man health chiefs will be looking to forge closer working relationships on common issues. It follows a useful recent meeting between Guernsey’s Health Department chief executive David Hughes and Jersey Health and Social Services Department chief officer Mike Pollard.

Although there are differences in responsibility – control of crematoriums and the ambulance service and district nursing differ between Guernsey and Jersey – there are similarities, particularly after Guernsey’s switch of government system to combine health and social services. Mr Pollard was especially interested in the medical system in Guernsey, including the specialist health insurance scheme and the contract with the Medical Specialist Group.

He was also interested in the long-term-care insurance scheme.

Guernsey and Jersey already work together with Gibraltar on arrangements for residents of the islands to receive treatment in UK NHS hospitals.

There are also services which each island provides for the other, such as Jersey extending MRI scanning and Guernsey offering nuclear medicine.

Discussions between the two chief officers covered many areas of their responsibilities and it was agreed that regular contact would be worthwhile so that opportunities for sharing services or expertise could be maximised.

It is also hoped to have meetings, which will include the chief executive of the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Security, to discuss issues common to the three Crown dependencies.

‘I was pleased to meet Mr Pollard, whose background in NHS management has much in common with my own, and I will look forward to a close working relationship in which we will discuss issues of mutual interest and areas where the two Bailiwicks can work together and share expertise on how to address problems which face both of us,’ said Mr Hughes after the meeting.

Mr Pollard is new to Jersey. He moved to the island after 28 years with the UK’s National Health Service.

Mr Hughes worked for the former Board of Health for 18 years before becoming its chief executive almost four years ago.