Work to reform contraceptive services in Jersey will not begin until summer – despite birth control being one of three “areas of concern” that the government pledged to focus on when plans to scrap the women’s health strategy were revealed last year.
When the government announced it would be not be progressing a stand-alone women’s health strategy in May, it instead pledged to focus on a review of the abortion law, funding for IVF, and access to contraception services.
The abortion law was updated last week, when States Members voted to remove residency requirements so that “potentially vulnerable or isolated” people can access pregnancies terminations.
Politicians have also pledged to lodge further amendments to the island’s “outdated” abortion law before the end of this year – with funding agreed during the Government’s Budget debate last month.
Meanwhile, new eligibility criteria for IVF funding came into force on 1 January 2025.
Under the new model, all couples are eligible for one funded cycle – irrespective of income.
Those with a gross household income of less than £200,000 are eligible for two funded cycles of IVF, whilst couples earning under £82,300 are eligible for three funded cycles.
In addition to the financial criteria, couples must meet a set of additional specifications including age and BMI restrictions.
There is also the requirement for the couple to be in a stable relationship, and for both partners to be childless – including children from previous relationships.
But whilst progress has been made on reforming the abortion law and updating IVF funding criteria, contraceptive services have seen no change – despite around 700 responses to a survey on the subject.
In response to queries from Express about updating contraceptive services, Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell said that work in response to the survey findings will not begin until “early summer”.
She explained: “The findings of the Contraceptive Services Survey were published on 14 November 2024.
“We will determine the actions to prioritise in response to these findings as well as the actions from the Women’s health and wellbeing (JSNA) in consultation with the Women’s Health Political Advisory Group in early summer, after the law drafting instructions of the Termination of Pregnancy Law have been completed.
“This aligns with the States Assembly’s decision that an updated Termination of Pregnancy Law needs to be lodged in December 2025.”