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Backbench politicians are lining up to demand answers from the Government about the operations of the controversial new board tasked with overseeing Health, after Assistant Chief Minister Andy Jehan resigned with a scathing attack on it.
While the Public Accounts Committee has asked Government Chief Executive Andrew McLaughlin to outline the Health Advisory Board's achievements and the value it has provided to taxpayers, other politicians working in Scrutiny roles have expressed concern about the divisions within government.
Constable Jehan stepped down from his role over the weekend, firing a broadside at Health Minister Karen Wilson in his resignation letter and questioning how the board – which has only held two meetings in spite of being constituted for almost a year – was operating.
The Public Accounts Committee – the panel of politicians responsible for scrutinising Government spending – has picked up Constable Jehan's concerns and asked the Chief Executive to provide – by 5 December – details on the Health Advisory Board's milestones and achievements, how much it had cost and details of the recruitment process for the Chair.
CLICK TO READ: PAC's letter to the Government's CEO.
Constable Jehan said in his resignation letter that he had found out about the extension of the appointment of Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor as Chair of the board – whose own £85,000 report on Health led to the creation of the board – via a draft press release that he had seen last Thursday, but this morning the Government had yet to confirm this extension.
Constable Jehan alleged that £73,000 had been spent on a recruitment firm and that an "excellent" candidate had been recommended for the permanent position, but that this individual was not selected.
Deputy Andy Howell, a member of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny panel, said she was worried that the position about the board chair had not been shared with Scrutiny or States Members.
She said: "It's a concern – we don't yet know what is happening, what the salary for the Chair will be and how long the appointment is for."
Deputy Howell said she was surprised that Deputy Wilson had not been able to share more information regarding the board when she took part in a quarterly hearing with the panel on 16 November, a week before Constable Jehan said he had sight of the draft release.
She added: "My personal view is that I am really sad that he [Constable Jehan] has resigned and I think there'll be questions for the Chief Minister – he helped her with her election campaign and I feel she might have done more to persuade him to remain in Government."
Another of Constable Jehan's concerns was the appointment of appointment of Health's former leader Julie Garbutt – who left five years ago with a £187,000 payout – to an NED role on the Advisory Board for which she will be paid up to £14,000-a-year.
Pictured: Andy Jehan took aim at the Health Minister in his resignation letter, saying there was no "coherent strategy" across Health.
Beyond criticising the board, he also pointed out that Government's plans for new healthcare facilities had not been endorsed by the Minister, that the assisted dying debate had been delayed, and even went so far as to suggest there was a lack of any "coherent strategy" at all across her department.
Some sources have suggested that Kristina Moore may now find herself under pressure to consider Deputy Wilson's position as Health Minister – or may otherwise face a vote of no confidence herself.
Reform's Deputy Rob Ward, who is Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel, called on the Government to "sort out its differences".
He said: "Scrutiny is here to scrutinise Government policy – we just need coherent, unified policy so we know what is being brought forward.
"It isn't good for the island, or for coherent governance, if you are going to have internal battles played out in public."
Express has asked the Health Department to confirm the situation regarding Professor Mascie-Taylor, and whether there is recognition of the "reputational damage" mentioned by Constable Jehan.
Responding to Constable Jehan's resignation letter, Chief Minister Kristina Moore said she regretted that he was leaving the Government.
It is with great regret that I have received Constable Jehan’s resignation. He brought extensive experience to the SEB and I valued his advice. He has resigned on a matter of principle & I respect his decision.
— Chief Minister of Jersey (@ChiefMinJSY) November 26, 2023
Deputy Elaine Millar will now take the role as Vice-Chair of the SEB. pic.twitter.com/E1ZntfW8zn
She said: "Your views on the leadership of the HCS Advisory Board – which we agree will be central to overseeing the progress we need – were known to the Council of Ministers.
"I respect that your decision to resign following the extension of the Interim Chair of the Board is a matter of principle for you – I regret that we have arrived at a position where your resignation on this matter has been required."
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