Consultants will revert to previous levels of public treatment “at the earliest opportunity”, the Health Minister has confirmed – after it was revealed that they had been directed to increase their private workloads in a bid to stabilise finances.
Deputy Tom Binet made the comments following an interview with Express in which he described the current public–private split as a “real dilemma” contributing to “unacceptable” waiting lists.
His comments triggered anger among doctors, prompting the minister to confirm that consultants themselves were not the drivers of the shift toward more private activity, but a choice made by Health leadership in a bid to stabilise finances.
In a statement issued this morning, Deputy Binet said the move to return to the pre-covid operating ratio between public and private treatment had been taken purely to avoid breaching the Public Finances Law – after Treasury already agreed an extra £12 million for Health this year.
He said there had been “precious little alternative”, insisting that the temporary adjustment was a financial-management necessity – not a clinical decision made by consultants.
Islanders can be reassured that, through our medical consultants and the wider health team, we will be taking additional measures to provide as much publicly funded care as we possibly can, in order to reduce waiting lists during 2026
Health minister tom binet
Deputy Binet said: “With this in mind, the purpose of this statement is simply to reassure the public that, subject to the 2026 budget being accepted by the Assembly (and as has always been my intention), we will revert, at the earliest opportunity, to the same amount of publicly funded treatment as had been in place before the change was made, for the reasons stated.
“Furthermore, whilst the new budget will provide for little more than a break-even situation next year (save for the new, ringfenced, investment in digital and prevention), islanders can be reassured that, through our medical consultants and the wider health team, we will be taking additional measures to provide as much publicly funded care as we possibly can, in order to reduce waiting lists during 2026. ”
The Minister emphasised that the initial change was “temporary, and importantly, was not driven by our first class medical consultants, who consistently provide as much publicly funded care as finances permit”.
Deputy Binet added: “They have our full support and I know will do everything in their power to continue to work with the leadership team, and our small ministerial team, to improve waiting lists during 2026.”
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