In brief: The cost of accommodating Jersey patients sent to Southampton for medical treatment rose by nearly a third last year, reaching £739,478, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Law. The increase comes as the Health Advisory Board chair has questioned whether the department can continue to afford what she called “quite generous” travel support for islanders.
The Numbers Behind the Nights
Bailiwick Express reports that Jersey’s Health department spent £739,478 on Southampton accommodation in 2025, up from £560,612 in 2024. That is a jump of almost £179,000, or 32%, in a single year. The rise in spending comfortably outpaced the actual increase in nights booked, which grew by a more modest 17%, from 2,974 to 3,467 nights. In other words, islanders are not just staying away more often; each stay is costing considerably more.
The bulk of that spending flowed to the Corporate Housing Partnership, which received £686,025 in 2025, compared with £481,805 the previous year. Nights booked through that provider rose from 2,023 to 2,711. Premier Inn was the next-largest provider by expenditure, though its bill actually fell slightly, from £44,490 to £40,200. Across both years combined, Southampton accommodation alone cost the department £1.3 million for 6,441 nights.
Health noted that accommodation charges were invoiced as a whole, “inclusive of any additional services that may have been provided.” The department has previously confirmed that negotiations were under way with its Southampton accommodation provider, including over additional charges such as cleaning costs. Contracts with Southampton providers were also identified for review ahead of renewal at the end of the year, and Head of Access Emily Hoban told the board that alternative providers were being considered through a tender process. “There’s a whole array of taxi costs and train travel costs that we’re also reviewing,” she said.
A Generous Package Under Scrutiny
The accommodation figures arrive against a backdrop of broader financial pressure on the Health department. Health Advisory Board chair Carolyn Downs has not been shy about raising the issue. At the board’s most recent meeting, she described travel costs as “quite generous” and asked pointedly: “Given our financial position, we really do need to think about it, don’t we?”
It is worth noting that the Southampton accommodation bill sits within a much larger off-island care budget. That overall figure actually fell, from £25 million in 2024 to £19 million in 2025, a total that covers flights, medical evacuations, treatment and accommodation. Around 60% of off-island services relate to cardiac and cancer care, with paediatrics also accounting for a significant proportion.
Health Minister Tom Binet had previously attempted to address costs by proposing that the wealthiest 30% of patients contribute towards, or fully cover, their travel and accommodation expenses. Those proposals were expected to save around £265,000 annually. However, Binet abandoned the plan, saying the “amount of angst” it caused outweighed the “relatively small amount of money” that would be saved. Whether that decision looks quite so straightforward now, with accommodation costs alone climbing by £179,000 in a year, is a question the department may find harder to sidestep.
What This Means for Jersey Patients
For islanders who need to travel to Southampton for specialist treatment, particularly those dealing with cardiac conditions, cancer or paediatric care, the travel and accommodation support provided by Health is not a luxury. It is a practical necessity that flows directly from Jersey’s size and the limits of what can be delivered on-island. The question being asked is not whether the support should exist, but whether the current arrangements represent good value, and whether the contracts in place are as competitive as they could be.
The tender process now under way, and the review of taxi and train costs alongside accommodation, suggests the department is at least asking the right questions. Whether the answers arrive before the contracts come up for renewal at the end of the year remains to be seen.
Source: Bailiwick Express
