Voters concerned by health and forever chemicals

The health service is one of the main election issues for voters in one district of Jersey.

Residents in St Ouen, St Peter and St Mary have expressed frustration at long waiting times for operations, while others are concerned at the amount of public money spent on health services.

Concerns have also been aired about forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, which were present in firefighting foam used at Jersey Airport's training ground in the 1990s and found in parts of the island.

BBC Jersey has been speaking to voters in every district before the election. On Monday, our roadshow was in Greve de lecq, on the border of St Ouen and St Mary.

Olive Thomas said she was concerned about the waiting list for an operation and the difficulty of attracting hospital staff to Jersey.

"It's been a problem for a while. There is nothing patients can do about it other than grin and bear it," she said

As of 30 April 2026, there were 3,661 patients waiting for an elective admission to hospital across all specialities.

The median waiting time is currently 20 weeks.

Thomas said the cost of living was putting nurses and doctors off working in Jersey.

"When I speak to nurses because I've been at the hospital, and their wages are going on rent and food and there's nothing left, there's nothing for the future, so why would they come?

"I'm sure we will have a lovely new hospital. But it's not just a building we want, we want the doctors and the nurses."

Sandra Le Reich, who the BBC spoke to in St Peters, was concerned about the amount of money being spent on health.

She said: "The health service is just eating money. Where it's all going I don't know. It's just eating money and we aren't getting value for our money.

"I know the hospital is taking a lot of time and money and hopefully it will come to fruition shortly, but it seems to be a money-eating pit."

Steven De Ste Croix, a young father who lives in St Ouen, told the BBC he was concerned by the cost of childcare.

The government has introduced 15 hours of free nursery care for children aged two to three, but families will have to pay up front and then claim the money back.

De Ste Croix said: "I think it's a positive initiative, but the access needs to be improved. We are fortunate enough to be able to fund and then reclaim it, but there will be a lot more families who can't afford the upfront payment.

"It's a real big challenge and a massive barrier to getting back to work for young mums.

"It puts a huge constraint on career choices, whether they want to take a step forward. You are basically putting handcuffs on them to say: 'Do you want a full time parent or do you want a career?'"

Andrew Le Quesne, from Save Our Shoreline Jersey, an organisation that highlights environmental failings, said forever chemicals were a big concern for people in the district.

Foam containing the chemicals was used on the fire training ground at the airport and leaked into nearby private borehole water supplies.

The island's government set up a scientific panel in 2023 to advise on the toxic chemicals, following years of campaigning by residents who said their health had suffered.

Le Quesne said: "I think it's a huge concern, the fact the water supply across the island is being contaminated, but especially in this district, where there is a very high proportion of agricultural use. So it's not just the impact on humans but on the whole economy.

"I think the incoming assembly are really going to have to make this a priority, they need to take action.

"I think the starting point is the petition to put filters into every school on the island and for the government to move at speed on that.

"At least that's making an attempt to protect the children."

Jersey Water has said drinking water quality was compliant with regulations and the independent scientific panel which advised on PFAS said levels in Jersey drinking water were lower than many places in the world.

Jersey's election will take place on Sunday 7 June and the list of candidates standing for St Ouen, St Peter and St Mary can be found here.

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