Some cases of what is known as health tourism are believed to involve Jersey residents who bring their elderly, sick relatives to live with them in the Island, so that when necessary they can be moved into nursing homes here.
It is those patients who can leave taxpayers covering their bill of up to £80,000 a year, while other health tourists come to live in the Island to take advantage of hospital surgery or drug therapy which can cost up to £50,000 per person a year – again at the Island’s expense.
Assistant Health Minister Eddie Noel revealed the figures in the States yesterday, in answer to questions from Deputy Roy Le Hérissier and others. He acknowledged that there was currently a loophole in the system which made this abuse possible.
