Access to contraception in Jersey is set to improve following criticism that the current system is a “mess” – but the changes won’t necessarily make the service free for all islanders.

Ruth Johnson, Director of Health Policy, said officers will work on improving contraception access once updates to the island’s abortion law are completed.

She was speaking at a special scrutiny hearing dedicated to women’s health matters.

It comes after the Government pledged to focus on contraception access as one of three “key areas” when the stand-alone women’s health strategy was scrapped last year.

But one year later, contraceptive services have seen no change – despite around 700 responses to a survey on the subject.

Pictured: The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel hosted a special hearing dedicated to the topic of women’s health.

Deputy Louise Doublet, Chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, quizzed politicians and health bosses about what progress had been made in this area.

Health Minister Tom Binet said resources were “very tight” and access to contraception in Jersey was “confused”.

Ms Johnson described the island’s current system for accessing contraception as “a mess”.

“We have no single coherent offering for women,” she admitted.

“We are acutely aware of that.”

The Director of Health Policy explained: “Once we have got the Termination of Pregnancy Law work done, we will turn our attention to how we develop a single, simple, coherent contraception offering for all islanders.

“That does not necessarily mean that it will be free for all islanders, but we will certainly focus on good access to affordable contraception for the majority of women.”

Contraception has been free on the NHS for over 50 years.

Pictured: Deputy Andy Howell is the Assistant Minister with responsibility for women’s health matters.

Deputy Doublet also raised concerns around access to emergency hormonal contraception – also know as ‘the morning-after pill’.

“We’ve heard that the statistically more effective option is considerably more expensive in Jersey than the alternative option – which is less effective,” she said.

“Women are therefore choosing the less effective option which may lead to terminations or unplanned pregnancies.”

Deputy Doublet highlighted the fact that the UK government recently pledged to make the morning-after pill available free-of-charge on the NHS at all pharmacies in England later this year.

Assistant Health Minister Andy Howell replied: “Yes, I am aware. But unfortunately, we cannot promise everything to everybody.

“We are under constraints.”