The Government of Jersey has announced the planned implementation of the Jersey Health and Care Index, a collaborative project with the Island’s General Practitioners.
The Jersey Health and Care Index (JHCI), will create a secure healthcare information system with a focus on accuracy and consistency in patient data across local healthcare providers.
It will ensure that essential core personal information, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, date of birth, registered GPs, and gender, is the same across all local healthcare systems and providers. This means that updates to that core information made in one system will automatically reflect in other relevant healthcare systems.
With the introduction of JHCI, Islanders and healthcare providers will benefit from:
- access to the most up to date information by authorised healthcare providers, including during emergencies
- streamlined process for patients to update their personal information through a ‘tell us once’ approach
- simplified process for referrals from GPs to hospital consultants for specialist care
- timely invitations for vital screening programmes, such as diabetic and cancer screenings.
The JHCI will utilise the personal information held by GPs and the Government’s Health and Community Services to establish patient records, ensuring that only the most up to date information is used. The information will also be verified against the Government’s People Directory, as well as the data held by Customer and Local Services.
The data protection team has been involved to ensure that personal information is used lawfully and securely. The JHCI will contain only ‘identifiers’ such as name, address, phone number, date of birth, registered GP, and gender. It will not contain any medical information or history, such as test results, referrals, diagnoses, or appointment dates.
Patient information will only be used for healthcare purposes and as such, will only be accessible to authorised individuals, ensuring strict data privacy. Further information about how your personal data is collected and used – and the measures taken to protect that data – is available via Jersey Health and Care Index Privacy Notice.
The creation of the JHCI is a significant step towards a more connected and efficient healthcare system.
Dr Nigel Minihane, GP and Chair of the Primary Care Body (PCB), said: “The Jersey Health and Care Index is a promising development in our healthcare landscape. We believe that by establishing a secure and consistent healthcare information system, the JHCI will streamline patient data management. This will lead to better patient care and ensure that essential personal information is always accurate and accessible to authorised healthcare providers.”
Enda McVeigh, Consultant at Health and Community Services, added: “We are excited to introduce the Jersey Health and Care Index in partnership with our dedicated General Practitioners. The JHCI will enhance healthcare connectivity, making it easier for Islanders to access vital services. It’s a significant step toward a more efficient healthcare system, that will improve the patient experience.”
