02 December 2025
Targeted measures have been introduced across Health and Care Jersey to help ease the
demand on the General Hospital during the winter.
The Winter Plan aims to enhance patient experience, reduce unnecessary Hospital admissions
as well as reduce the length of time patients stay in Hospital but ultimately supports the acute
hospital’s response to a rise in demand and or acuity, the severity of a patient’s illness.
During the winter months the Hospital can become busy as illnesses such as flu and Covid,
which can particularly affect the elderly and very young, can lead to a spike in admissions.
A key part of the plan has been based on improving patient flow through the Hospital. This helps
with timely Ambulance transfers, ensures beds are available for patients who need them and
allows the day-to-day business of the Hospital, such as elective surgery, to continue.
Under the plan, two new areas have been created within the Emergency Department, ED –
Rapid Assessment and Treatment and Fit2Sit.
The Rapid Assessment and Treatment area has been developed for patients arriving by
ambulance. In this area, patients are assessed by a senior clinician, and diagnostic tests are
undertaken within 30 minutes of their arrival. This means the patient can be swiftly transferred
to the most appropriate area of the Hospital, such as a ward, freeing up space in ED and
allowing other patients to be seen.
Meanwhile, Fit2Sit is for patients who do not need to be assessed or treated on a hospital
trolley but can have their condition managed while in a recliner chair. The addition of these four
chairs has increased capacity within the department, easing pressure at busy periods and
helping to improve ambulance handover times.
Specialist paramedics have also been introduced to Jersey for the first time. These paramedics,
who have advanced skills, can treat certain patients within the community rather than
transporting them to Hospital. Blood tests taken by these paramedics are processed by the
Hospital’s laboratory team within 60 minutes, supporting the patient to be treated closer to
home.
Another key feature of the plan is the opening of the Same Day Emergency Care unit.
This unit allows patients – who previously would have been admitted to hospital – to be
assessed, diagnosed, treated and safely discharged on the same day.
In the coming weeks a new Discharge to Assess service will also be launched. This will allow
patients to be discharged home, when it is medically appropriate, for care assessments to take
place. While awaiting assessment, the patient will be supported by a care agency for two weeks
as well as with Telecare technology such as personal alarms and sensors.
James Basilio-Mason, Head of Operational Resilience, said: “A huge amount of work has gone
into developing this Winter Plan which is focussed on enhancing care for Islanders. Winter can
see increased demand on healthcare services which is why these measures are so important.
“By introducing new services and streamlining hospital flow, we’re making sure people get the
right care at the right time, and that our teams are supported to deliver it.”
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “It’s great that we have this
plan in place but we’re also asking Islanders to play their part in helping to protect our frontline
services during the busy months ahead.
“Vaccination programmes such as those for flu, COVID-19 and RSV are key to preventing
severe illness, they offer protection to those who are most at risk from these viruses and
therefore can also help to alleviate pressure on the hospital. If you are eligible for any of these
vaccines, please contact your GP surgery to arrange vaccination and only attend the Emergency
Department in a genuine emergency. Pharmacists, GPs and the out-of-hours doctor service
may be the most appropriate place to access medical care."
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