The Health Department says ‘firm and swift action’ is being taken to correct failings within its management.

It’s after the Comptroller and Auditor General published a damning report into the department’s governance.

Karen McConnell called the running of the department “inadequate, overly complex and not fit for purpose.”

She also criticised a lack of transparency and accountability.

Health Director-General Anthony McKeever says a new board has been created to fix that problem.

“That is intended to create visible leadership, accountable leadership and a straight-forward approach to the important choices that need to be made about how health services are run and delivered.”

It will be chaired by the Health Minister, Deputy Richard Renouf, and will meet in public quarterly.

Board members will include his Assistant Ministers as well as the Director General, Group Managing Director, Jersey’s Chief Nurse and Group Medical Director.

The first meeting is due to take place early next year.

The department has also vowed to address cultural issues raised by the Comptroller.

Mr McKeever says a new handbook will be created for staff.

“We’ve already got two people with a clinical background – one a nurse from theatre and another a therapist – who is going to come and work with the backroom team in developing a handbook that makes sense of governance.

“It’s so we can make taking decisions, getting them right and being accountable for them everybody’s business in health.”

22 recommendations for improvement were laid out by Karen McConnell, which the department has promised to act on.

Its set out to:

• provide for clear leadership and accountability with more authority and decision-making at the front line
• ensure a more efficient, effective use of limited resources while maintaining a strong focus on quality and safety
• create a more agile organisation by ensuring staff can perform effectively in clearly defined roles
• increase the focus on service objectives and outcomes to achieve timely, well-governed services and service transformation in line with the department’s strategic plans
• build a strong and healthy culture that encourages challenge and embraces learning.

“The improvements required will take years, not months, to accomplish, and we acknowledge that progress made and the results being achieved will need to be regularly monitored.

“In health and social care, getting the right results – for individuals and for taxpayers – is important at every level. We want governance to become part of normal business at every level in HCS.”