Below follows Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez's 2025 Budget statement:

Madam Speaker, Thank you. 

Last year I stood here and said, “prepare for a long speech.” 

This year, I’m afraid to say, the same disclaimer applies. 

In fact, given everything that has happened, and everything still to come, I suggest Honourable Members get comfortable.  

So, Madam Speaker, it is once again a privilege to rise in this House to deliver my second Budget Address. 

And to continue to do so as the Minister responsible for Health, Elderly Residential Services, the Care Agency, Public Health, Business, Town Planning, Procurement, Utilities, the Port and the Maritime Administration. 

So yes, it’s quite the portfolio. 

And yes, it still looks enormous when you see it written down. 

And in fact, Madam Speaker, it is not lost on me that my entire portfolio represents almost 50% of the entire Government expenditure.  

It also represents portfolios that are largely driven by real life situations. 

Therefore, yes, Madam Speaker, some of my departments do have the greatest overspend.  

I have no issue, Madam Speaker, defending that overspend and being the winner of Mr Clinton’s Bust the Budget Awards.  

If it means having to spend, for example, HALF A MILLION on a SINGLE DRUG TO SAVE A CHILDS LIFE, as we have done, Madam Speaker.  

But like I said last year, it’s not the number of departments that’s daunting. 

 It’s the people and the real-life stories behind them. 

The patients, the nurses, the doctors, the industrial staff, the admin staff, the carers, the social workers, the businesses, the workers, the families relying on basic services.  

The people who need us to get this right.

Who need us to understand the Gibraltar of 2025 and have a clear plan and vision for the future.  

Madam Speaker, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past twelve months, it is that you cannot fix what you do not face.  

So, I am determined to face those challenges head on, honestly, and with urgency. 

Madam Speaker, we need to modernise the way that government works to deliver better public services for the people who rely on them.  

Like the Father of the House stated yesterday, we need to look to different technologies to find better ways of doing things.  

We are putting PEOPLE at the HEART of everything we do.  

This is about investing in the services that people deserve, NOT cutting them like other parties propose. 

Madam Speaker, I said last year that I asked for the Health portfolio because of my own personal experience. 

That experience changed me.  

It shaped my thinking and the decisions I make.  

And it still does. 

I have now met more people in this role than I can count. 

And do you know what I keep hearing? 

Not that people don’t care. 

Not that people aren’t working hard. 

But that the system, too often, feels slow. 

Slow and frustrating.  

So, I’ve made it my mission this year to start joining the dots. 

Between departments. 

Between services. 

Between the issues people live with and the decisions we make as Ministers.  

Because, Madam Speaker, I do not want to be a Minister who sits behind a desk signing documents.  

I want to be the kind of Minister who rolls up her sleeves and gets things done.  

The kind who picks up the phone. 

Who walks the hospital wards. 

Who visits frontline workers. 

Who talks to people who are struggling and ACTUALLY listens. 

Because it is not enough to make announcements.  

We have to deliver. 

I’ve chaired hundreds of meetings. 

I’ve launched reforms.  

I’ve asked the hard questions. 

And I’ve carried policies through. 

Some popular – some less so – but ALL for the greater good. 

Because Madam Speaker, and I’m going to be generous here, no one stands in these shoes, or indeed in anyone in this chamber’s shoes, who does not want the best for Gibraltar and its people. 

And I’ve set standards that are high and challenging, because our people deserve no less. 

And to those who feel that I have not been able to get back to them – I apologise. 

I can give the community and this House the assurance that each and every day, I try. 

I get up intending to give my all to this community, and may sometimes fall short on an individual matter, but it is not through want of trying. 

So Madam Speaker, what have we done? 

We’ve established a brand-new Internal Audit Department at the GHA 

Because if we’re spending £224 MILLION POUNDS across Health and Social Care, we need to make sure every single pound is delivering value for money.  

We are starting to see the fruits of this.  

We’ve delivered Gibraltar’s first-ever Cath Lab, something that many thought we’d never see happen.  

And now, thanks to the dedication of our clinical teams, cardiac patients can receive life-saving interventions right here at St Bernard’s Hospital, 24/7. 

We’ve moved from concept to consultation, to be about to publish a Bill on a full restructure of the Health and Care Authority, because the structure we had in place was outdated.  

We’ve published an ADHD pathway. 

We’ve rolled out an Autism Strategy. 

Oh, and by the way, we worked together with the Opposition on both of those! 

And, Madam Speaker, there are now appointments available at the PCC EVERY SINGLE DAY.  

We have nationalised AquaGib, bringing our water network system into full public ownership.  

We have procured a large battery to help mitigate power outages arising from any fault at the North Mole Power Station. 

And we’ve done all of this while continuing to deliver the essential, day-to-day services that the GHA provides: GP appointments, operations with very few cancellations, outpatient clinics, therapies, cancer treatment, the delivery of a new oncology suite, mental health interventions, inpatient care, maternity, paediatrics, A&E services, and so much more…

We are managing daily services, while also building for the future. 

And Madam Speaker, let me be clear. 

This has NOT been easy. 

There have been difficult decisions. 

There have been delays.  

There have been complaints - some valid, some not so much. 

There have been demonstrations. 

But we have NOT buried our heads in the sand.  

We’ve faced the challenges.  

We’ve acknowledged what is NOT working. 

And we’ve taken steps, real, meaningful steps, to make it better. 

This is what Government with sleeves rolled up looks like in reality.  

We are doing.  

We are GETTING THE JOB DONE.  

And it doesn’t always look pretty. 

It doesn’t always come with applause. 

But it comes with outcomes. 

And that is what I care about. 

Not about leadership contests. 

Not even about politics.  

But about the improvements that I hope to bring about. 

As everyone who has gone through a traumatic experience relating to healthcare will know, such experiences shape you.  

They shape you in a way that drives you to understand what is truly important.  

So yes, I will ALWAYS be honest about what still needs fixing. 

We still need to reduce waiting times in some areas.  

We still need to digitise processes that are painfully manual. 

We still       need         to     streamline procurement         and   tighten accountability. 

We still need to restore the trust of ALL the staff at the GHA. 

But I will say this - we are not where we were a year ago. 

We are moving. 

And we are moving in the right direction. 

There are many more changes yet to come.  

And Madam Speaker, I will NOT apologise for caring this much.  

I will NOT apologise for the emotion I bring to this role.  

I will NOT apologise for the urgency, or the passion, or the bluntness. 

Because I will never sit quietly while there are still issues that need to be addressed.  

Because today I come with updates, with a track record of delivery, and, as always, with fire in the belly. 

“Fire in the belly”, Madam Speaker, which I am sure you will appreciate as a woman is sometimes portrayed, at best, as “getting your knickers in a twist” or – at worst, as “crazy” – but the equivalent fire for my male counterparts it would be viewed as “assertive” or “passionate”. 

I say this, Madam Speaker, not to complain, but to contextualise.  

We often speak about having more women in politics and ask what we should be doing to encourage them.  

Maybe the way that we portray them in general debate would be a great way to encourage women to participate. 

So Madam Speaker, this is going to be a long speech.  

But it’s long because there’s work to report on.  

And I’m proud of that.

So with your permission, I will now begin with the first of my portfolios.  

And this year, Madam Speaker, I will not be beginning with Health. 

In fact, I will be ending with Health. 

This year, I will be beginning with a department who has worked extraordinarily hard in delivering for the most vulnerable in our community despite recent challenges: 

And that is, the Care Agency.

 

CARE AGENCY 

Madam Speaker,  

 

The Care Agency is split into four different sections: 

Learning Disability Services 

Children’s Services  

Psychological and Therapeutic Services  

Adult Services 

 

Each with its own Head of Service. 

 

The budget for the Care Agency for this financial year is £33,374,000.  

 

Forecast outturn for 24/25 was £42,930,000.  

 

The allocated amount for FY 24/25 was £28.2 million. 

 

This means, Madam Speaker, that there has been an over expenditure of £14,474,000 - £6 million of which is part of the £10 million settlement dating back to an incident at Dr Giraldi in 2013 which was well documented in the press last year.   

 

Madam Speaker, the Care Agency has experienced increasing levels of service demands during 2024/25.  

 

I would like to reassure the House and the Father of the House, however, that the cost of these increases in service demands have been absorbed wherever possible, however these have had to lead to increased costs.  

 

The main area of growth in the service, Madam Speaker, has have an increase in Looked after Children and an increase in domiciliary care hours from circa 6000 hours per week to circa 6400 hours per week.  

 

 

Madam Speaker, these figures tell a clear story, not just of cost, but of care.  

 

Because behind every increase is a person, a family, a team responding to need.  

 

And nowhere is that more evident than in our Learning Disability Services. 

 

And one area where that response has been particularly urgent and deeply felt is in respite care. 

 

Let me explain what this is for those fortunate enough not to require it.  

 

The Care Agency offers respite services for children through short-term care arrangements designed to give families and primary care givers a short break from their caregiving responsibilities. 

 

This is hugely important, in particular, for the overall wellbeing of both the child and their family.  

 

In April 2024, the Care Agency launched a tender for the provision of after-school respite services, with the clear aim of improving access, formalising care arrangements and moving away from the current facilities at the Boat House. 

 

Despite strong interest, as I have told the House before, the tender did not produce a successful award.  

 

The main obstacle was the complex requirement to provide both specialist care and suitable premises under a single contract.  

 

No applicant was deemed fully suitable. 

 

But Madam Speaker, we didn’t stop there. 

 

With the full support of the Procurement Office and in line with ALL procurement rules, the Care Agency entered into direct negotiations with PossAbilities, a respected provider with a proven track record in delivering high-quality care for individuals with complex needs.  

 

And, importantly, PossAbilities is a not-for-profit organisation.  

 

Their initial proposal had already come closest to meeting our expectations    during       the   tender process         and   subsequent discussions have     allowed     us     to     design       a stronger,       more sustainable model together. 

 

I am very pleased to be able to expand our respite services in a manner that is both cost-efficient and future-proofs the service. 

 

Under the new model, the number of children and young adults accessing after-school respite will increase from 35 to 44.  

 

Most of these will now be supported in dedicated, purpose-built premises managed by PossAbilities, while the Care Agency retains full strategic oversight and responsibility for contract governance. 

 

Key improvements will include, for example, a dedicated bus service, addressing long-standing concerns around transport during bad weather.  

 

Importantly, this expanded and improved model delivers a £600,000 annual savings and this saving is with the bus service included in the model. 

 

It not only meets a growing demand but does so more equitably, more sustainably and with better value for public money. 

 

This is the way we need to achieve results.  

 

A better outcome for people and a better outcome financially.  

 

Madam Speaker, I therefore hope that this initiative is welcomed by the Opposition and by Mr Clinton, in particular.  

 

Madam Speaker, we are hoping to have the collaboration with PossAbilities up and running by September this year.  

 

Consultations with families are already underway, and we are working closely to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding and insurance arrangements.

 

And I must say, Madam Speaker, it was a pleasure to speak directly to the families affected at our recent Town Hall. 

 

I was keen to meet with the families of service users to explain the changes directly, alongside staff from the Care Agency, before they heard about it in the local media.  

 

These are difficult transitions, but they are also opportunities to get things right.  

 

This is not just about increasing numbers, though that matters. 

 

It’s about fairness.  

 

It’s about dignity.  

 

And it’s about delivering respite care in a way that is safe, structured and fit for the future. 

 

 

LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICES  

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

This is a part of my portfolio that never fails to humble me. 

 

When we speak of learning disabilities we are speaking about Dr Giraldi’s and St Bernadette’s.  

 

Over the course of the financial year, our Learning Disability Services team has not only preserved the quality of life for those they support, but they have also improved it. 

 

They have done so amid rising demand and ongoing post-Brexit complications. 

 

And yet, the work continues.  

 

And the service evolves. 

 

And here, the service has to evolve in a functional manner, a manner that is respectful of the needs of the service and of future proofing the service. 

 

Additionally, Madam Speaker, one of the issues that was raised at the Town Hall I attended on respite services with the families of service users was longer term plans for Dr Giraldi given the growth of the service.  

 

Madam Speaker, the families present felt that a lot of the Care Agencies attention went on early intervention and, at the point where children turned into adults, not enough focus was out on that transition.  

 

I confirmed to them at the Town Hall that we were already looking at plans to expand the service.  

 

So, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that as part of our commitment to strengthening residential provision for adults with learning disabilities, we are advancing plans to relocate service users from the first floor of the Dr Giraldi Home to a building which is to be wholly refurbished adjacent to Tangier Views and to Tangier Views, which will also be refurbished for this purpose.  

 

These facilities will be purpose-adapted to support individuals with complex needs and will be directly connected to Tangier Views to allow for more efficient use of staff and shared resources. 

 

This is a temporary arrangement whilst this purpose new centre is being built. 

 

The move will also enable St Bernadette’s Resource Centre to expand into the vacated first floor at Dr Giraldi. 

 

In addition, a number of satellite flats will be released, while others will continue to support service users requiring more independent or bespoke living arrangements.  

 

The initial feasibility and surveyor reports have been completed and funded.  

 

Madam Speaker, subject to final technical planning and design confirmation, the next phase will confirm capacity and layout, supporting a more sustainable and person-centred model of care within Learning Disability Services. 

Madam Speaker, the demand is growing.  

 

The complexity is rising.  

 

But through careful planning the Learning Disability Services team have managed not only to maintain safe and consistent care, but to extend it.  

 

Afternoon Respite Services have now been introduced, and the Day Centre welcomed a further four new service users. 

 

One of the most significant developments this year has been the return of Community Mental Health Team clinics in partnership with the GHA.  

 

This means that our service users are receiving mental health support delivered by professionals who understand their unique needs.  

 

It’s what good multi-agency working looks like in practice. 

 

And Madam Speaker, we are not standing still.  

 

I am pleased to report that we are now working on an international exchange programme with a Learning Disability Service abroad so that our staff can continue learning, continue sharing and continue building on the exceptional foundation they’ve laid. 

 

So I would like to thank the brilliant Learning Disability Team for their work throughout the year.  

 

CHILDREN’S SERVICES 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

We do also need to look at Children’s Services. 

 

When we talk about Children’s Services, we’re talking about protecting the vulnerable, supporting families through crisis and walking alongside children through some of the most difficult moments in their lives.  

 

The work is complex.  

 

It’s emotional.  

 

It’s incredibly demanding.  

 

But it is also absolutely essential. 

 

Children’s Services is made up of a dedicated team of professionals; social workers, family support staff, care workers, therapeutic specialists, who work across a wide range of services to keep children safe, well and supported.  

 

This year, referrals to the service rose significantly - up to 573 from 443 last year.  

 

That’s not a sign of strain.  

 

That is a sign that the system is working. 

 

That safeguarding training is reaching more places.  

 

That confidence in the service is growing.  

 

That families, schools, charities and frontline professionals feel safe enough to raise concerns and trust enough to know they’ll be heard. 

 

We’ve also seen an increase in Child in Need Plans, evidence of earlier intervention and a shift away from crisis management.  

 

These plans support families to stay together.  

 

To rebuild relationships.  

 

To find the tools they need to move forward, stronger. 

 

In the courts, I’m pleased to report that Care Order applications have reduced, with more cases resolved earlier through targeted intervention.  

 

Which is always the aim. 

 

Behind each case is a child who now has a clearer, safer plan for their future, and that is exactly how it should be. 

 

Right now, 8 children are being considered for adoption under the new legislative framework introduced through the 2024 Adoption Act. 

 

Madam Speaker, I want to now say a few words about the Family Centre. 

 

The Family Centre has been a cornerstone of early intervention this year.  

 

Adult attendances have nearly doubled.  

 

Structured                                                                                               parenting      classes,     domestic abuse                                                                                                                                  recovery programmes, financial guidance, drop-in sessions, supervised contact - these are just some of the supports being offered every day by a team who understand what it means to show up for families, without judgement, and with practical help. 

 

The Family Centre is a lifeline for many.  

 

And from the feedback we get from parents and carers it is clear this support makes a difference. 

 

The better the family centre works, the less cases there should be for care.  

 

In Children’s Service, we currently support 52 Looked After Children, 26 of whom live in our residential homes.  

 

Each child has their own plan, their own voice and their own goals.  

 

The Care Leavers’ Service is supporting 24 young people transitioning    into independence, offering                                                                                                                                 everything    from housing guidance to emotional support. 

 

A dedicated Senior Social Worker and Personal Advisor are in place to make sure that when a young person leaves care, they don’t leave support behind. 

 

Twenty children are in foster care, with a further 14 placed with connected carers.  

 

And Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say that the network of foster families continues to grow stronger, more confident and more supported. 

 

Madam Speaker, I cannot end this section without acknowledging the people who make all of this possible, the excellent team at Children Services.  

 

This is not easy work, it is extremely important.  

 

So thank you.

 

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES  

 

Madam Speaker,  

 

Moving on to the Psychological and Therapeutic Services.  

 

This is a service that doesn’t seek the spotlight, but whose work is central to some of the most sensitive, complex and life-changing moments in our care system. 

 

Their work extends across Children’s Services, Adult Services, Disability Services, Elderly Residential Services and our Residential Homes for Looked After Children.  

 

They support individuals and families through grief, trauma, abuse, neglect, and breakdown, working at the intersection of safeguarding, clinical care and human recovery. 

 

Over the past year, the team has continued to provide support in areas such as co-parenting interventions, trauma therapy for children and adolescents, therapeutic risk assessments and behaviour planning for children in care.  

 

They also deliver therapeutic programmes focused on domestic abuse, harmful behaviours and relational recovery, including the Freedom, Voice, Phoenix and Respect programmes.  

 

The team has remained a key partner in multi-agency working, offering consultancy and therapeutic oversight to the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Health Authority, the Department of Education, Youth Services, and His Majesty’s Prison Service.  

 

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the Therapeutic Services team received 133 new referrals and supported over 820 active cases.  

 

While these figures reflect a reduction on previous years, they are the result of a strategic shift toward earlier intervention, deeper engagement and wider group programme access.  

Madam Speaker, this is specialist work that requires skill, discretion and extraordinary emotional intelligence.  

 

These counsellors and clinical practitioners sit with the stories that others cannot bear to hear.  

 

The impact of their work may not always be visible on paper, but it is deeply felt in the lives of those they serve. 

 

So to the Therapeutic Services team, thank you! 

 

ADULT SERVICES  

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

Our Adult Services team continues to provide vital support to some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.  

 

These are individuals who are ageing, isolated, unwell, or living with long-term or complex needs.  

 

The team supports clients through social work intervention, safeguarding, hospital discharge planning and long-term case management.  

 

Madam Speaker, as you would expect, hospital discharge work remained a key priority for the team.  

 

Over the year, 268 assessments were completed to support timely discharges, ensuring that patients were not left in hospitals for longer than necessary.  

 

And Madam Speaker, I say this not only as the Minister with responsibility for Health, but also as a service user of St Bernard’s Hospital, I am very grateful for the work of the Care Agency team in supporting timely hospital discharges.  

 

Madam Speaker, as I will explain later, this is why having a more joined up GHA, Care Agency and ERS is so important.  

 

Their behind-the-scenes efforts are what help keep our hospital beds flowing and our acute services functioning. 

 

Without them, we would be facing far greater pressures on bed capacity, and we cannot take that work for granted. 

 

Where needed, community-based social workers continue to assist the Hospital Social Worker with assessments, allowing for flexibility in managing demand.  

 

The Waterport Day Centre continues to play a vital role in supporting elderly and frail adults living in the community, particularly those without family or social networks. 

The Centre currently supports 106 registered clients, with daily attendance ranging from 18 to 24 depending on health, hospital admissions and transport availability.  

 

With 125 clients registered in total, a waiting list is in place.  

 

The Centre provides structure, stimulation and social connection, along with breakfast, lunch and transport for those with reduced mobility. 

 

And Madam Speaker, having attended the Waterport Day Centre myself on numerous occasions, I know first-hand how happy and grateful the service users of the day centre are. 

 

They have often pointed out to me the stark difference between the care they are receiving and the care their parents received two generations ago.  

 

Safeguarding remains a central part of Adult Services too. 

 

There were 72 safeguarding alerts received in 2024/25, an increase from 55 the previous year. 

 

This reflects improved awareness across agencies following the rollout of updated safeguarding procedures and the delivery of monthly basic safeguarding training.  

 

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say the Adult Safeguarding Board is now fully legislated and Safeguarding Adult Lead Manager (SALM) training is being delivered across agencies to further build safeguarding capacity and culture. 

 

The Court Welfare Service continues to offer expert support to children in family court proceedings, with 71 active cases at year end.  

 

Although the team is small, social workers from Adult Services continue to step in and build their experience in this area when demand exceeds capacity.  

 

These officers ensure that children’s voices are heard and that their best interests are clearly presented in proceedings. 

 

So, Madam Speaker, to every member of the Adult’s Services team, thank you.  

 

DOMICILIARY CARE 

 

I want to end this section with what has been one of the largest issues this year.  

 

I want to end with one of the most visible issues we have had this year, and, frankly, the most sensitive parts of the care we provide in our community - domiciliary care. 

And yes, Madam Speaker, without a shadow of a doubt, it has been one of the areas which has most taken up my time in the past few months.  

 

This is the support that enters people’s homes every single day.  

 

It is often invisible to the wider public, but for those who rely on it, it is everything.  

 

It is what allows people to stay in their homes, to preserve independence, dignity and routine.  

 

And so, Madam Speaker, I believe it’s only right to end the Care Agency section by speaking candidly about where we are on Domiciliary Care, but also on what went wrong and what we have done about it. 

 

Because, as I have said many times Madam Speaker, the easiest thing in the world for me to have done when I inherited the care portfolio in October 2023 would have been to do nothing. 

 

To leave things as they were. 

 

To avoid disruption. To avoid headlines. To avoid backlash. 

 

But that would have meant ignoring everything the families and carers were telling me. 

 

And that is something I simply would not do. 

 

It is not who I am, Madam Speaker. 

 

I believe that if there is an issue, it should be tackled.  

 

I do not put my head in the sand, Madam Speaker. 

 

From the earliest weeks in job, I was approached by people who told me that the Domiciliary Care system was not working as it should. 

 

That carers were trying their best but had no support.  

 

That families were stressed.  

 

That service users were sometimes left waiting, confused and vulnerable, with services frequently missed. 

 

And the costs to the Care Agency were spiralling.  

 

That is why I made the decision to put the service out to an arm’s length tender process. 

This was not about politics, Madam Speaker.  

 

It was about principle.  

 

The previous service was not meeting the standards our community rightly expected. 

 

It was a service which had grown organically, because this GSLP Liberal government responded to NEED.  

 

I made that decision to improve quality, ensure accountability and bring transparency into a service that had grown organically over the past decade.  

 

The idea was simple.  

 

I wanted to introduce a contract with the service provider that would create clear and enforceable standards that could be overseen by the Care Agency.  

 

Ensure value for money and build accountability and transparency into a critical front-line service. 

 

A contract was therefore put out to tender.  

 

Following that tender process, the contract was awarded to LifeCome Care Ltd.  

 

And to labour a point that has frequently been put to me, Madam Speaker, I took NO part in the award of the contract.  

 

I took no part AT ALL in the award of the tender.  

 

A tender board was established pursuant to the guidance laid out by the team at Procurement and this board awarded the contract after a protracted tender process.  

 

That contract was worth £3.84 million.  

 

Although, Madam Speaker, in the last Financial Year, as Honourable Members will be able to see for themselves in the book, we have spent almost £4.2 million in Domiciliary Care.  

 

And for the first time, having a contract in place has allowed us to define service expectations in black and white. 

 

To set the standards of what we expected.  

 

But Madam Speaker, I will not stand here and pretend it worked. 

 

Because it didn’t. 

The company that had been awarded the tender fell short of expectations from the outset, notwithstanding their Care Quality Commission accreditation.  

 

We began to see delayed visits, missed appointments, chaotic rotas, unacceptable communication and carers under extraordinary pressure.  

 

In fact, Madam Speaker, this is one of those little spoken about situations where Unite came to see me about the way the carers felt, and I unhesitatingly agreed.  

 

Families were left to chase answers. 

 

And the Care Agency, behind the scenes, was working all hours of the day.  

 

I had hoped, genuinely, that these were teething problems. 

 

But they weren’t. 

 

They were structural, systemic problems.  

 

And so, Madam Speaker, once it became clear that the system was not working, LifeCome Care Gibraltar Limited and the Care Agency made the difficult but necessary decision to mutually end the contract with them.  

 

And let me repeat this again, Madam Speaker. 

 

This was NOT a political decision, it was a necessary one.  

 

It was a decision from which I did not shy away from or procrastinate  

 

Once it became clear that our expectations were not being met, the contract was ended by mutual consent.  

 

Again, Madam Speaker, this was NOT the easy path.  

  

And so, we created a new, not-for-profit service “Community Care Domiciliary Services Limited”, or CCDSL. 

 

CCDSL was set up by Community Care Gibraltar, a longestablished, trusted charity.  

 

And it is built on entirely different principles. 

 

No shareholders. 

 

No profits. 

Every penny invested into CCDSL is spent for the benefit of our service users.  

 

And again, Madam Speaker, this was done working alongside the Procurement team, WITH THEIR BLESSING. 

 

LifeCome and the transition between CCDSL was a transition which was discussed and sanctioned by Procurement.  

 

Every carer who had been employed by LifeCome was offered the opportunity to transfer to CCDSL under TUPE protections.  

 

Many of them accepted.  

 

That meant that the familiar faces, in so far as possible, stayed in place.  

 

And crucially, CCDSL also began recruiting new staff, with a strong desire for local applicants.  

 

But let me be very clear - CCDSL did not walk into a well-oiled machine. 

 

They walked into a service in disrepair. 

 

There was no proper handover from LifeCome. 

 

No rotas. 

 

No timesheets.  

 

No leave data.  

 

No proper staff records. 

 

And yet, Madam Speaker, CCDSL and the Care Agency rolled up their sleeves and got on with it.  

 

They got on with it, as I witnessed during the Easter break, on Bank Holiday Saturday, Bank Holiday Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.  

 

And let me tell you, Madam Speaker, those days were tough.  

 

The days were long, stressful and emotionally draining. 

 

They took phone calls of unhappy service users, – we all took a lot of strain during those long days.  

 

As I said publicly at the Town Hall we held in May, where many service users and their families were present, I am genuinely sorry for the disruption they experienced.  

 

Families and carers had to endure a difficult transition, and I do not shy away from that.  

 

In fact, I answered many calls, WhatsApp, Facebook messages, and indeed, Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to say worked collaboratively with the Honourable Ms Sanchez to ensure that the needs of the service users were met.  

 

But the Care Agency and CCDSL have worked around the clock to get things back on track, and, thankfully, we now see the benefit of that work.  

 

They worked day and night to stabilise the service. 

 

And for this, Madam Speaker, I remain extremely grateful to all those who worked through that difficult transition.  

 

I’m not going to mention any names, but you know who you are; and I know who you are. 

 

And importantly, this is not just a change of contractor. 

 

We are not taking the problem out of one company and putting it into another. 

 

It is a complete change of model. 

 

And this is how.  

 

First, CCDSL is building a proper management and supervision structure.  

 

Supervisors are visiting homes and checking rotas.  

 

Secondly, CCDSL are working to reduce travel delays and inefficiencies by assigning carers within defined districts wherever possible.  

 

Thirdly, all CCDSL carers are undergoing refresher training under our new “Skills for Care” programme.  

 

Fourthly, they are phasing out zero-hour contracts. 

 

CCDSL, in partnership with Unite the Union, has committed to offering carers as many minimum 15-hour fixed contracts as possible within six months.  

 

Finally, and critically – they are a NOT-FOR-PROFIT company. 

 

No one is seeking to extract any benefits here.  

 

Every single penny goes back into the system. 

 

We are also working with CCDSL to resolve the IT problems and scheduling issues that caused chaos under the previous provider.  

 

Faulty apps are being replaced with better ones, which we are specifically developing for this purpose – working with Unite the Union.

 

Oversight is being reintroduced. 

 

Madam Speaker, we are working with CCDSL not just to rebuild a service, but to rebuild trust. 

 

Trust between families and the system. 

 

Trust between carers and management. 

 

Trust between Government and the community. 

 

And yes, it has taken time. 

 

It is important to note, Madam Speaker, that there are now 512 packages of care being delivered.  

 

And while some families did face challenges, the vast majority have been receiving their care without any issues. 

 

But I really believe, and I hope the House will agree, that we are now on far stronger ground. 

 

And I want to take a moment, Madam Speaker, to reflect on how far we’ve come. 

 

Because it’s important to remember that when the GSD was last in office, the entire budget for domiciliary care stood at just £750,000.  

 

Today, by contrast, we are investing over £4.2 million into this service, not because it’s politically easy, but because it is morally necessary.  

 

Because this Government chooses to fund care.  

 

Because we understand the value of it in human terms. 

 

And with CCDSL, every single pound is now reinvested.  

 

Into staff. Into systems. Into standards. Not into dividends. Not into margins. 

 

This is NOT about spending more. 

 

It’s about spending better. 

 

It’s about respecting the taxpayer, respecting carers, and, above all, respecting the service users who rely on this care every single day.  

 

A service, Madam Speaker, run by the brilliant Gerry Lane, who came out of retirement to assist us with bringing this service back on track.  

 

Madam Speaker, to Gerry and to the rest of her fantastic team at CCDSL, thank you very much for your extraordinary work these past few months! 

 

Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, Gerry came on to get the service up and running for 6 months, and so she is now due to leave in September.  

 

Madam Speaker, I am therefore pleased to announce that I have been informed by CCDSL that Jeanette Ochello, better known for her work as Chairperson of the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society, will be taking over as Managing Director of CCDSL following a handover period with the outgoing Managing Director, Gerry Lane, who had been originally contracted for 6 months.  

 

This is excellent news, Madam Speaker.  

 

I am sure Jeanette will bring deep understanding of the needs of families, particularly those affected by dementia, many of whom rely on domiciliary care services. 

 

Her experience and insight make her ideally placed to lead CCDSL into its next chapter now that the transitional issues I have set out have been overcome  

 

I am even now starting to receive positive feedback on the new service, but we will not hear that from the Honourable Members Opposite.  

 

Madam Speaker, the easiest thing would have been to step away. 

 

To do nothing. 

 

But that is not why I was given this portfolio. 

 

I have stood tall in front of the issues and at no point have I shied away.  

 

And Madam Speaker, while we have worked tirelessly to fix a broken system that has grown organically, others have offered nothing but noise.  

 

So let me address that head-on. 

 

The Honourable the Leader of the Opposition only manages to show that, not only does he not have a plan for domiciliary care, he does also not have a personality. 

 

In the two hours that he droned on, at no point was a viable alternative offered for Domiciliary Care. 

 

For a service, which was hardly offered during the GSD’s term of office. 

 

As indeed he himself has pointed out in a video he did whilst he was the Leader of the PDP: 

 

AND I QUOTE: 

"The social needs of our community will not be given the necessary priority" under the GSD. 

 

Madam Speaker, I was honest with Gibraltar when it was not working. 

 

I was honest immediately.  

 

At that point, we came up with a credible plan. 

 

A credible alternative. 

 

It demonstrates his lack of a plan for Gibraltar. 

 

He moans. 

 

He complains. 

 

And Madam Speaker, that is the difference.  

 

We confront problems and fix them. 

 

He just comments from the sidelines. 

 

So, Madam Speaker, 

 

Before I move onto my next portfolio, I want to thank the entire Care Agency team, and especially the CEO, Carlos Banderas. 

 

I want to thank, in particular, all those who stood with me during hard periods for the benefit of the service users – always putting the service user first.  

 

It’s been a tough year, not least with the challenges around domiciliary care.  

 

But through all of it, they’ve stayed focused, professional and committed to doing what is right. 

 

So, to every single person in that team, thank you.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROCUREMENT 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to Procurement.  

 

This may not always be the most visible area of Government, but it is one of the most fundamental.  

 

It is, put simply, how we ensure that public money is spent properly and transparently, and in a way that provides real value for taxpayers. 

 

It is about doing things properly. 

 

But it also has to be about achieving practical results.  

 

And in this past year, we have made significant progress in ensuring just that. 

 

Madam Speaker, I am particularly pleased to report the official launch of the new Procurement Office website. 

 

We have purposefully redesigned this.  

 

The new platform now acts as a central portal through which suppliers can directly access tender notices, contract awards, procurement policy guidance and procedural updates.  

 

It includes the Supplier Network Portal, something we have worked hard to deliver.  

 

This makes it easier for our supplier community to navigate public procurement, improves efficiency and clarity and strengthens the relationship between Government and those we deal with. 

 

And the figures speak for themselves.  

 

During the last financial year, the Procurement Office has awarded 689 quick quote contracts and 123 full tender contracts.  

 

But I will also say this, because transparency demands honesty.  

 

The recent tender in respect of domiciliary care and home support services did not deliver a practical result.  

 

As I explained earlier, there were legitimate concerns raised, particularly in relation to LifeCome Care Limited. 

 

I did not involve myself in the evaluation or award of that particular tender, and that was the correct approach.  

 

However, I have since instructed the Procurement Office to undertake a review of their processes, as we said we’d do in our manifesto. 

 

We are now putting in place enhanced due diligence protocols and stricter decision-making frameworks so that outcomes are practical as well as accountable.  

 

I have also, Madam Speaker, asked the Gibraltar Law Offices to carry out an analysis of our procurement regime, with a view to identifying ways in which the process might be streamlined to better suit a small jurisdiction like ours.  

 

The issue, to my mind, Madam Speaker, is that as well as always being transparent, the process has to deliver practical results.  

 

The outcome must be one that works. 

 

Madam Speaker, we continue to build internal capacity.  

 

160 civil servants have already received procurement training this year, and we expect to have trained approximately 400 by the end of the financial year.  

 

The aim, Madam Speaker, is to bring the face of procurement to all government departments. And to make them easily approachable.  

 

We are also expanding the reach of the Procure-to-Pay (P2P) system.  

 

It is now operational in six additional departments.  

 

This takes the total number of e-procurement users to over 1000, real progress in our drive to digitise processes across the public sector. 

 

So, Madam Speaker, whilst it has not been an easy year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jordan Borg and the staff at the Procurement Department for their work throughout the year in, what is, a crucially important area of Government business.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUSINESS / OFT 

INTRODUCTION 

 

Last year, I told this House that I had left Business last in my speech because it is a Ministry with huge potential for Gibraltar going forward. 

 

One year on, I am even more convinced of that. 

 

The treaty announcement marks a pivotal moment for Gibraltar. 

 

It brings both opportunity and responsibility, and our business strategy has been designed with both firmly in mind.  

 

BUSINESS TRANSITION ADVISORY GROUP 

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chief Minister for his kind words earlier this week and to confirm that I will very shortly be establishing the new Business Transition Advisory Group, which I will have the privilege of chairing. 

 

This Advisory Group will play a central role in supporting Gibraltar’s business community through the next phase of implementation of the UK–EU Treaty, particularly in respect of the proposed Transaction Tax and other relevant transitional considerations. 

 

The Group will include the Chairs of all the main business organisations in Gibraltar, which will ensure representation from across our private sector, as well as our brilliant Attorney General. 

 

We are committed to listening, to understanding the realities on the ground and to working in lockstep with industry.  

 

I will be announcing the full composition of the Advisory Group shortly, and we will report to Cabinet before the end of November on how best to ameliorate any potential transitional effects on businesses. 

 

Madam Speaker, our strategic priorities will take on even greater importance. 

 

Our focus has remained laser-sharp: 

 

making business easy,  improving communication,  visible enforcement, and  driving business development. 

 

We have made progress on all fronts, and we are not slowing down. 

 

With the treaty negotiations done, the sky really is the limit. 

 

The framework of the new Treaty offers fresh opportunities that will require us to adapt. 

 

The Treaty announcement is already unlocking a renewed sense of investor confidence.  

 

It stands to be a real boom for Gibraltar and for the surrounding region too.  

 

We need to be sure that Gibraltar is ready to compete and thrive as a gateway for global business.  

 

Our focus now is on ensuring that Gibraltar’s business environment is ready, resilient, and equipped to take advantage of what lies ahead. 

 

Some businesses are bound to benefit more immediately than others, our commitment is clear: we will lend support across every part of our business community so they each have the tools to grow, adapt, and thrive in this new chapter. 

 

CHANGE TO TRADITIONAL TRADE ENVIRONMENT 

 

 Our economy is nimble. 

 

The Economist magazine is known for labelling it as “tiger-like”. 

 

Despite the accolade, it is not as easy as we would like to OPEN or to GROW a business in Gibraltar. 

 

And it should be. 

 

Part of the reason why is simply because over time, business has become a gatekeeper.  

 

A gatekeeper that controls access to our flagship public benefits. 

 

That is changing. 

 

Checks are being done where those public benefits are being received.  

 

The test for business registration currently hinges on having a place of business in Gibraltar or carrying on business in Gibraltar. 

 

We are working on the legislative changes that will align the licensing and registration regimes and giving us the tools we need to stamp out abuse.  

 

This is one of many steps that we are taking to improve our readiness to receive new business. 

 

BUSINESS REGISTRATION 

 

The business registration team, previously within the Department of Employment, moved to the Office of Fair Trading at the start of the year. 

 

The next part of that project involves assessing a potential overhaul of business registration.  

 

Business registration was brought in after the frontier re-opened in 1985. 

 

Its purpose was to gain data for economic planning and address unfair business practices. 

 

We will be looking at cabinet level, at the modernisation of the registration process. 

 

In the meantime, we have begun digitising the business registration process. 

 

As of this year, business registration certificates are now issued digitally. 

 

The next phase of the digitisation will also be geared towards renewals for all businesses.  

 

The digitisation will see compliant businesses renew their business registration with a few clicks. 

 

No more form printing, form-filling, scanning, or waiting… 

 

Less time dealing with Government, and more time for business to focus on what it does best: their business. 

 

START-UP HUB 

 

I was pleased to announce the creation of our new start-up hub at the recent GFSB annual dinner. 

 

The first hub is being launched in collaboration with the Peter J. Isola Foundation, to which we are very grateful. 

 

The hub will be a co-working space within Europort that will house multiple start-up businesses at the same time. 

 

Businesses are being invited to apply on the OFT webpage and the successful businesses will be selected by a panel. 

 

There will be a strict limit of 1 year during which a business can participate in the scheme. 

 

Participating businesses will need to pay their share of service charges and utilities but that is the total cost that they will need to contribute.  

 

I am grateful to the Peter J Isola Foundation, who will contribute the rent for this first start-up hub in Europort. 

 

In recognition of that contribution, we will be naming this hub the Peter J. Isola Start-Up Hub. 

 

HMGoG will support the administration of the hub, provide guidance to participating businesses and access to other Government services.  

 

I would also like to thank Umee who will donate internet services and Focus Security and El Martillo who will donate security services to this first hub.  

 

This initiative is not exclusive to Europort and if any other landlord would like to participate, I would strongly encourage them to contact the CEO of Business, or myself.  

 

We are establishing a charity to oversee the Peter J Isola Start-Up Hub, as well as any future hubs we may launch in partnership with other landlords. 

 

GIBRALTAR ENTERPRISE SCHEME 

 

Gibraltar Enterprise Scheme applicants are assessed against defined criteria, one of which is the viability of their business. 

 

This is not a grant, it is not free money and has to be paid back whether the business succeeds or not. 

 

Personal guarantees are obtained from the individuals involved in the business. 

 

The panel that considers applications does not recommend a loan for approval if they are not confident that the business can repay the loan. 

 

But we do want to see more applications come through. 

 

I have directed that the scheme be opened for a 12-month round so that new business can apply year-round. 

 

Applications can also be made online on the OFT website, and we have published our criteria for the assessment of loan applications. 

 

INDUSTRY MEETINGS 

 

I have maintained my regular meetings with the business advisory board and the main street consultative board. 

 

My honourable colleagues join me for these meetings, given the overlap with their portfolios.  

 

Our CEO of Business and the OFT is also in regular contact with the GFSB and Chamber of Commerce. 

 

Together, we identify friction points and shape policy together. 

 

These can be small things, like improving the flower baskets on Main Street, or thornier issues, like the amendments to shop hours legislation. 

 

SHOP HOURS 

 

Shop hours set the pay that applies to retail businesses on weekends and public holidays. 

These rates raise the operational costs for retail businesses that choose to open on weekends. 

It was a shame to see an increase in the number of quality cruise calls not always met by the availability of businesses. 

We had considered proposals to relax these shop hours for businesses located on Main Street. 

Rather than going out to immediate consultation, we sought early feedback from the unions to understand where they see the pressure points. 

I am grateful to Unite for their preliminary feedback and in particular, their call for empirical data. 

 

Together with the Government’s industrial relations team, we have formulated our policy with Unite’s concerns at the forefront of our minds. 

 

Since we had been exploring shop openings during weekends, it is clear to us that a growing number of shops are opening during cruise calls. 

 

We have therefore paused our legislative review to assess the number of shops that are opening on weekends. 

 

MAIN STREET DE-CLUTTER  

 

Main Street is at the heart of our retail sector. 

 

Like main other high streets across the world, it is undergoing change BUT I am pleased to see that it continues to attract new business from one end to the other. 

 

From Swiss watchmakers and frozen yoghurt and luxury icecream and coffee houses – through to the restoration plans for a 100-year-old building! 

 

I would like to see our Main Street continue to improve and for it to be treated as the jewel that it is. 

 

There are some shops that had been advertising their goods outside their premises. 

 

These pavements form part of the public highway, which belongs to the people. 

 

The goods on display impede access for pedestrians, especially for people with reduced mobility. 

 

Additionally, footfall for adjacent shops is also redirected elsewhere. 

 

It is also unsightly to see goods to be displayed outside premises. 

 

Having previously notified the GFSB and the Chamber, we recently wrote to every single shop on Main Street notifying them that they must remove any goods that they may have on display outside their premises. 

 

The results have provided a cleaner look and feel for Main Street. 

 

A handful of business have made representations to us and we are receptive to some of those representations, such as affording them more time to adjust.  

 

BUT adjustments must be made for the benefit of the entire community. 

 

If we do not see results, we will have no choice but to enforce the law, much though we do not want to take this approach.  

 

ENFORCEMENT 

 

Our enforcement campaigns have also been visible. 

 

Our campaign to raise awareness with foreign businesses operating in Gibraltar has been a resounding success. 

 

We have advertised on the LED screens on the Spanish side of the border with a bilingual ad that was displayed more than 25,000 times. 

 

We have produced a bi-lingual infographic that was advertised on social media with over 70,000 impressions within a 10 km radius, most if it within the Campo area. 

 

We have also carried out a campaign in collaboration with HMC down at 4 Corners border crossing. 

 

We stopped over 67 vehicles and the vast majority were found to be unlicensed. 

 

We have contacted the business owners, formally warning them of their non-compliance and informing them of the process to register and apply for a licence. 

 

Our approach is not limited to foreign businesses, we have also reached out to Gibraltar businesses that engage these unlicensed business. 

 

Once they are on notice, it is also an offence for them to engage the unlicensed business. 

 

Further campaigns are planned, with the next phase to be conducted at the Entry Processing Unit. 

 

The plan is also to collaborate with the Labour Inspectorate for the next phase. 

 

The Spanish press describes ours as a declaration of war against the self-employed people in the Campo – that is INCORRECT. 

 

In fact, it could not be further from the truth – the reality is that we welcome these businesses with open arms – but they have to be properly registered and licensed. 

 

In a Treaty environment, maintaining visible and consistent enforcement will be more important than ever. 

 

We will ensure a level playing field where businesses compete fairly, operate compliantly, and thrive on their own merit. 

 

BUSINESS REMAINS ON THE UP  

 

A total of 1,114 business licence applications were received last year. 794 of these were new business licence applications (as opposed to transfers or extensions). This is over double the number of new business licence applications received last year. 

 

These aren’t just stats.  

 

These are REAL ideas, REAL people, REAL jobs. 

 

The online application form for business licences has been extremely well received.  

 

There are further improvements to the business licensing platform that we have rolled out to automate messaging and to automate payment receipts, and more to come. 

 

We are also looking to make changes to the Non-Licensable Registration, that is currently open to all service types. 

 

This category was originally intended for artisans and cottage industries. 

 

We are finding that there are a large number of NLR holders who are abusing this registration system. 

 

We are seeing applications from companies, partnerships, even applicants represented by senior lawyers. 

 

When the business should only have a turnover of less than £20,000.  

 

We are reviewing the data and will be introducing changes to curtail this abuse. 

 

These changes will not be directed at the artisans and cottage industries, for whom this exemption was designed. 

 

REAL ESTATE SECTOR

Moving on to the Real Estate Sector, compliance standards continue to be high. 

 

Our government recognises and appreciates the significant role that the real estate sector plays in Gibraltar’s economy, in supporting individuals and businesses moving to Gibraltar AND in our fight against economic crime 

 

With over £200 million in transaction value this year, they regularly contribute a sizeable part of our GDP.  

 

This figure may be down from the figure reported last year but the sector’s outlook for 2025 appears more positive with many anticipating a modest recovery in buyer enquiries. 

 

Following the Treaty announcement, we anticipate a rebound in sentiment across the property market, with interest expected to grow steadily in the months ahead.  

 

There is already a solid pipeline of projects progressing through the planning phase, each one bringing with it significant indirect economic activity, from professional services to retail and construction.  

 

This momentum reflects confidence not just in property, but in Gibraltar’s long-term economic outlook. 

 

CONSUMER 

 

The number of consumer complaints received has seen a slight decrease since last year. However, complaints continue to increase in terms of their complexity.  

 

We recently we launched a new digital complaint form on the OFT’s website, making it easier and more efficient for consumers to submit formal complaints and for the OFT’s consumer protection team to process them effectively. 

 

Despite fewer complaints and a temporary drop in inspections due to our legislative transition and focus on foreign unlicensed businesses, investigations increased demonstrating our commitment to targeted and timely enforcement. 

 

As a department, the OFT have adopted AI successfully by building a custom GPT to assist the team with consumer complaints (another custom GPT has also been built to support AML queries). 

 

These innovations are helping us work faster, smarter, and more consistently. 

 

CONSOLIDATION 

 

Minister Santos and I will present draft legislation that would modernise the Entertainment regime and Outdoor Furniture (Tables & Chairs) regimes. 

 

The Entertainment regime would do away with the leisure area regime, and leisure area licence holders would be grandfathered business and outdoor furniture licences. 

 

This work has been months in the making, together with my Honourable colleague Minister Santos and our legal advisors. 

 

These drafts are presently under consultation and a further announcement will be made once that consultation closes.  

 

There are also a series of changes that we will be making to the Fair Trading Act. 

 

The majority of these will see changes to the Decision-MakingCouncil. 

 

This is an operational model that was mirrored from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. 

 

The changes that are being proposed bring these processes closer to business. 

 

A number of appointments will also be made to this DecisionMaking-Council in order to make its membership more representative of our business community.   

 

REBRAND TO DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS 

 

I am also pleased to formally announce that the OFT will formally rebrand to the Department of Business.  

 

This is a big move, providing a clearer public face for business. 

 

It also follows the meaningful cultural and structural change that commenced last year with the appointment of the new CEO for Business. 

 

Earlier this year, the OFT relocated to new premises at Europort, bringing together business registration and licensing under one roof in support of our one-stop-shop vision. 

 

The Office of Fair Trading is synonymous with protecting consumer rights – we are not moving away from that. 

 

The UK’s Office of Fair Trading was closed in 2014. 

 

In the UK, its responsibilities were transferred to different departments. 

 

We are NOT doing that. 

 

The new Department for Business will continue with OFT functions: 

 

business licensing,  consumer protection  and AML and other enforcement. 

 

But it will also bring in all other functions that I have touched on in this part of my speech: 

  

Business registration; 

The Start Up Hubs; 

Enterprise scheme loans; and 

The new entertainment and outdoor furniture regimes. 

 

And a forward looking, joined up approach to business, in  tune with the current climate of businesses in a vibrant, modern, forward looking Gibraltar that is ready to embrace its new chapter and hurtle into the next decade of business. 

 

The new branding will be closer to the actual functions that are carried out and will bring them ALL under one roof.  

 

Functions that are better described as “Business” than under the OFT umbrella.  

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – NEW WEBSITE 

 

As part of the rebrand, I am also excited to launch a new and interactive website for business in the next 12 months. 

 

This website will consolidate all of the business relevant information that is presently spread out across different government webpages. 

 

Work is already well underway, as we seek to update old information and include information that was previously unavailable. 

 

This is part of the drive towards showing the outside world that “Gibraltar is Open for Business” as my honourable colleague Minister Feetham recently said.  

 

The new website will include information for existing businesses, as well as information for businesses, entrepreneurs or workers looking to relocate to Gibraltar.  

 

The launch will be well timed, aligning with the Treaty announcement and the renewed interest we are already seeing. 

The website will include testimonials across our entire business community. 

 

So if anyone has a good relocation story, please do get in touch. 

 

LONDON EVENT 

 

The Gibraltar day in London is an excellent showcase of the excellent business relationship that we have with the UK.  

 

Building on that success, we are looking at hosting a dedicated event focused on business, entrepreneur and worker relocation to Gibraltar.  

 

This event would target key professionals involved in the relocation process:  

 

HR managers,  estate agents,  lawyers,  tax advisors, and  accountants 

 

providing them with the tools and insights needed so that we feature in any jurisdiction selection process.  

 

We are exploring how we can front the cost of the venue and then recover these costs from local businesses that seek to showcase what Gibraltar has to offer. 

 

NEW SECTORS 

 

As part of our wider business development strategy, we are currently engaging with a number of businesses exploring the provision of stem cell therapy from Gibraltar.  

 

One of these is focused on patient-funded clinical trials, and I hope to bring an announcement to this House in the very near future. 

 

Our CEO of Business is also actively supporting the development of Government’s commercial maritime strategy, passionately led by Aaron Lopez. 

 

We see huge potential in many of the initiatives identified within these areas and I am particularly grateful to John Paul for bringing fresh, outside-the-box thinking to this important work. 

 

BUSINESS CONCLUSION 

 

I am grateful to the entire team at the OFT, soon to be the Department of Business, and so ably led by our CEO of Business, John-Paul Fa, for all their hard work over the year. 

    

 

 

 

 

 

   

GIBRALTAR MARITIME SERVICES  

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to our Maritime Services. 

 

Last year I stood in this House and told Honourable Members that I would be convening monthly meetings of the Gibraltar Maritime Strategy Council to bring the Gibraltar Port Authority and the Gibraltar Maritime Administration together under one roof, metaphorically speaking, to start setting a strategic course for the future of our maritime sector. 

 

One year on, the result of that work is clear.  

 

We have not only convened those meetings, but we have created an entirely new entity, Gibraltar Maritime Services (GMS). 

 

Gibraltar Maritime Services, Madam Speaker, is a new, fit-forpurpose department with a clear task - to develop and implement a Maritime Strategy that is comprehensive, forward thinking aligned with both local and global maritime developments.  

 

It is about ensuring that Gibraltar remains competitive in a fastmoving    and   increasingly       complex                                                                                                                                  international         maritime landscape and that we do so in a way that benefits not only those doing business directly with us but Gibraltar PLC as a whole. 

 

This is about growing our maritime economy, not in a piecemeal way, but through a focused and deliberate strategy. 

 

Madam Speaker, it is currently estimated that Gibraltar’s maritime sector contributes around £390 million annually to our GDP.  

 

And we aim to grow that. 

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 

Madam Speaker, the GMS Business Development Strategy is all about modernising our frameworks and enhancing our competitiveness.  

 

We are building the foundations for a maritime offering that is streamlined, digital, responsive and attractive to international investors. 

 

And yes, Madam Speaker, central to that is the introduction of competitive tax incentives to broaden the scope of services on offer and align ourselves with the needs of modern shipping. 

 

Because let’s be clear, we cannot afford to sit back and hope that Gibraltar remains attractive.  

 

We must actively make Gibraltar competitive and send the message, loud and clear, that we are open for business. 

 

Madam Speaker, Gibraltar Maritime Services is the vehicle through which we will secure our long-term maritime future. 

 

It is about delivering quality. 

 

It is about strategic growth. 

 

And it is about making sure that Gibraltar’s maritime economy is not just competitive, but leading. 

 

And I look forward to returning to this House next year and reporting on the progress we have made. 

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Aaron Lopez, our Business Development Director for Maritime Services, and John Paul Fa, our CEO of Business, for their work in this area over the past year.  

 

 

 

 

GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY  

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to the Gibraltar Port Authority.  

 

2024 has been another big year for the Port of Gibraltar. 

 

The global maritime sector continues to face challenges: disrupted trade routes, fuel transitions and geopolitical instability.  

 

But as is so often the case, it’s in adversity that resilience shines.  

 

And I am proud to say that the Port of Gibraltar has once again proven its ability to deliver, commercially, operationally, and perhaps most importantly, reputationally. 

 

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report activity across the board has been strong.  

 

Total vessel traffic in our waters rose by 1.7% compared to last year, a steady and reassuring indication that our port remains one of the busiest and most reliable in the region, if not the world.  

 

Bunkering remains the cornerstone of our port’s services, and here too we’ve seen continued strength.  

 

Bunker calls increased by 5% from 2023 to 2024.  

 

While the first quarter of 2025 has seen a slight softening, a pattern we expected, the long-term outlook remains positive and we continue to adapt. 

 

Our focus now is not just on volume, but on value and that means preparing the Port for the future.  

 

Our engagement with stakeholders has intensified, particularly in supporting the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner fuels.  

 

Madam Speaker, we are one of a small number of ports globally offering LNG and biofuels alongside conventional marine fuels.  

 

And that investment is paying off. 

 

LNG bunkering has skyrocketed with a sixfold increase in vessel calls in 2024 and a twelvefold increase in the actual volume of LNG supplied.  

 

And in the first four months of 2025 we have already seen a further 60% growth compared to the same period last year.  

 

Biofuels are also on the rise also, helped by the Mediterranean’s designation as a Sulphur Emission Control Area from 1st May 2025.  

 

These trends show that Gibraltar is not just keeping up, we are setting the pace. 

 

And the market is responding. 

 

We’re not only attracting more calls, but we’re seeing growing interest from operators wanting to base themselves in Gibraltar.  

 

That is a testament to our reputation. 

 

In the yachting sector, we’ve also seen a 10% rise in visits during 2024.  

 

Gibraltar’s reputation as a dependable stop for crew changes, supplies and services continues to strengthen, and we expect this upward trend to continue into 2025. 

 

Madam Speaker, we are not resting on our laurels. 

 

Under the Gibraltar Maritime Services banner, and with the Gibraltar Port Authority at the heart of it, we have continued our international engagement.  

 

In February, I was pleased to attend the IBIA Annual Dinner in London.  

 

And looking ahead, the Gibraltar Port Authority are already preparing for London International Shipping Week in September. 

 

We will once again host the headline reception on the opening day, with guests expected to include the UK Secretary of State for Shipping, the IMO Secretary General, and senior figures from across the global maritime and energy sectors. 

 

This level of visibility matters and I want to sincerely thank our partners and sponsors for making this all possible. 

 

Madam Speaker, turning to the financials. 

 

For the financial year 2024/25, total revenue reached just under £8.91 million — comfortably above our estimate of £8.6 million.  

 

Expenditure was £7.27 million — above the allocated budget of £6.79 million. 

 

As always, I want to be completely transparent with this House about why. The overspend is explained by a number of operational realities: 

The filling of two long-standing vacant posts; 

Higher than anticipated overtime, due to operational demands; 

Increases in employer contributions, insurance premiums and security contracts; 

Additional pollution control and legal expenses; 

And some marketing initiatives where we needed to step in directly to secure Gibraltar’s presence. 

 

Madam Speaker, we take financial discipline seriously, but we also take our operational responsibilities seriously.  

 

If a job needs doing, we will do it and we will do it properly. 

 

Arrears as at the end of March 2025 stood at £413,386.33.  

 

We continue to enforce payment terms robustly, and this remains a management priority. 

 

And finally, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that our port tariff review has now concluded.  

 

This was an extensive stakeholder-led process and one we approached with care and balance.  

 

The updated tariffs are now in place and we are confident they will continue to support healthy revenues without placing unfair burdens on operators. 

Madam Speaker, the success of the Port of Gibraltar is not accidental.  

 

It is the result of a clear vision, excellent leadership, strategic engagement and an outstanding team on the ground. 

 

I want to thank every member of the Gibraltar Port Authority, so ably led by the brilliant Captain of the Port, John Ghio,  for their work throughout the year. 

 

Madam Speaker, this Port is ours. 

 

It is Gibraltar’s gateway to the world.  

 

And we are determined to keep it safe, competitive and forwardlooking. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIBRALTAR MARITIME ADMINISTRATION 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I now turn to the Gibraltar Maritime Administration.  

 

The work of the GMA is essential in maintaining Gibraltar’s reputation as a premier global maritime hub. 

 

I am proud to say that Gibraltar continues to be recognised for its high safety standards, robust legal framework and commitment to quality, even in the ever-evolving regulatory and geopolitical landscape in which we find ourselves. 

 

The Gibraltar register currently holds 126 ships, either actively registered or in the final stages of registration.  

 

This totals 671,333 gross tons. 

 

Madam Speaker, the Small Ship Register and Yacht Register also continue to perform solidly.  

 

As of the 22nd April this year, we have 843 yachts and 405 small ships, totalling 1,248 vessels. 

 

Combined with our commercial fleet, Gibraltar’s total register stands at 1,374 vessels, with an overall gross tonnage of 696,334.20 .  

 

This is slightly up in vessel count from the previous year. 

 

To further increase the ship registry, Gibraltar Maritime Services has detailed a comprehensive roadmap for the Gibraltar Maritime Administration (GMA) to achieve financial sustainability, modernise its service offering and position itself as a globally competitive and progressive maritime flag. 

 

To support this objective, Gibraltar Maritime Services proposes a multi-pillar framework that includes international business development, digital transformation, a new global partnership model including VIP concierge services and a targeted shift towards registering new and green medium to large Gross Tonnage (GT) vessels. 

 

But Gibraltar’s flag continues to shine brightly - literally and figuratively. 

 

We remain firmly on the Paris MoU Whitelist, an international badge of honour recognising our flag as one with low detention rates and consistently high standards.  

 

And in a world that never sleeps, I’m pleased to say our services have followed suit. 

 

The GMA has launched a 24/7 online system for the issuance of Confirmation of Receipt of Application (CRA) under STCW 

Regulation I/10(5).  

 

Since November last year, we’ve issued 331 CRAs, enabling seafarers to begin working while their endorsements are processed.  

 

It’s simple, it’s secure and it’s smart. 

 

This is just one part of our broader commitment to digital transformation.  

 

The GMA is actively upgrading its e-service infrastructure, ensuring that our maritime stakeholders, whether here or overseas, benefit from faster, more transparent and user-friendly systems. 

 

Because, Madam Speaker, in the digital age, a world-class flag must also deliver a world-class service. 

 

Our Seafarers’ Division has also issued 888 endorsements for officers since 1 April 2024,  again, demonstrating Gibraltar’s responsiveness to industry demand while ensuring full compliance with international training and certification standards. 

 

On the yachts front, I am pleased to announce that the Yacht Registry has implemented a more flexible transition process between Pleasure Yacht and Commercial Yacht registration for yachts 24 metres and above.  

 

This allows owners greater operational flexibility which is a crucial offering in today’s competitive maritime economy.  

 

Madam Speaker, Gibraltar, as a jurisdiction, is proving that we are not just compliant - we are adaptable and forward-thinking. 

 

Our international footprint has also expanded. 

 

 

We’ve also reinforced our presence in key international forums.  

 

And in June last year, the GMA took part in the Red Ensign Group Conference in Guernsey, reinforcing its close collaboration with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and REG Partners.  

 

Madam Speaker, we are absolutely committed to sustainability. 

 

We are driving regulatory changes and incentives to support the use of low-carbon fuels.  

 

The key to Gibraltar’s maritime sector is not just growth — it’s responsible growth.  

 

These initiatives align with both international expectations and our own climate responsibilities. 

 

And finally, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to confirm that the GMA has recently passed three independent audits with flying colours: 

the ISO 9001: 2015 certification, 

the UK MCA III Code audit and; 

the STCW audit conducted by an independent UKappointed auditor.  

 

In all three, no non-conformities were identified.  

 

That, Madam Speaker, is the gold standard. 

 

So Madam Speaker, to the whole GMA team, led by Dylan Cocklan — thank you.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AQUAGIB 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now my responsibility as Minister for Public Utilities, and I begin with AquaGib.  

 

This past year, we took a significant and strategic decision, as set out in our manifesto, to safeguard Gibraltar’s long-term water infrastructure and ensure its future remains rooted in the public interest. 

 

In December, His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar acquired the remaining 67% shareholding in AquaGib from Northumbrian Water Group.  

 

This brought AquaGib into full public ownership for the first time in its history.  

 

We now own 100% of our national water service provider. 

 

This was a smooth, carefully planned transition. 

 

It follows more than 30 years of a joint venture between the Government and private sector partners, who supported the modernisation of our water infrastructure and brought us much needed technical skill when it was required.  

 

But with contractual arrangements reaching their natural conclusion and with the increasing need to ensure strategic resilience and accountability, the time had come to bring AquaGib fully under public ownership. 

 

Although I want to be clear, Madam Speaker.  

 

This is not about taking over operations.  

 

AquaGib continues to operate as an independent, commercially managed company, just as the Gibraltar International Bank and Gibtelecom do.  

 

Like those institutions, AquaGib is now 100% owned by the Government, yes, but it is not run by civil servants or directed dayto-day from No.6 or from my Ministry. 

 

It is run by professionals, with expertise and operational independence.  

 

And that is exactly how it should be. 

 

I now chair the newly reconstituted AquaGib Board, which includes Managing Director Paul Singleton, Financial Secretary Charles Santos, former Financial Secretary Albert Mena, former Water Networks Director William McLaren and an employee representative Sheelagh Fiol. 

 

During the 2024/25 financial year, AquaGib spent approximately £15.7 million to maintain and improve our potable and seawater supply and sewerage systems.  

 

That figure includes £1.4 million on asset maintenance projects.  

 

These have included the replacement of water mains in several challenging but critical locations such as Tankerville Road, Castle Road, Lower Castle Road and Town Range. 

 

Significant investment has also been made at the Governor’s Cottage Reverse Osmosis plant, which, as I am sure the majority of Gibraltarians fully understand after our water crisis a few years ago, supplies the majority of our water network.  

 

At the same time, AquaGib has pushed forward with its programme of smart meter installation, giving customers better data and improving system-wide efficiency.  

 

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that AquaGib also concluded its insurance claim for the Powers Drive fire, securing £1.3 million, 99% of its submitted costs. 

 

During the year, AquaGib worked closely with Government to relocate assets from the Waterport site in preparation for the next phase of the Bob Peliza Mews housing development.  

 

That relocation, of stores, workshops and offices, was completed successfully and without operational disruption.  

 

The next phase, relocating the Waterport Reverse Osmosis plant to the North Mole, is now underway and due for completion this financial year, including the installation of a new Reverse Osmosis unit valued at £1.2 million. 

 

Madam Speaker, in 2025/26, AquaGib will spend an estimated £16.1 million.  

 

This will support continued mains replacement across Upper Town, major infrastructure upgrades at Waterworks reservoirs and Middle Hill, digital improvements to telemetry and billing systems and the completion of the North Mole RO plant relocation. 

 

AquaGib is also in the final stages of a full companywide review being led by an external consultant. 

  

This review was commissioned following concerns raised by staff and is focused on benchmarking the company’s operations and exploring how AquaGib can deliver more effectively, efficiently, and sustainably for the future. 

  

We will be looking to discuss the results of the company wide review with AquaGib management and all of its teams in the third quarter of this year.

  

With the review, we hope to modernise the workforce, job descriptions and indeed pay of the workforce, as well as to update processes to align with best practice in similar jurisdictions. 

 

Madam Speaker, this is how good public ownership works.  

 

AquaGib is not a department.  

 

It is not a Government-run agency. 

 

It is a professionally managed utility company, operating with independence and expertise, in the same way as Gibraltar International Bank and Gibtelecom.  

 

The key difference is that now, 100% of its benefits remain in Gibraltar.  

 

Every decision made by its Board is made with the interests of our people and our future in mind. 

 

I want to thank the former Northumbrian Water directors for their work over many years and I extend my gratitude to the entire AquaGib team, led by Paul Singleton, for their continued dedication and high standards.  

 

I look forward to seeing them all after the summer. 

 

Their work is vital and is what keeps our taps running. 

 

So thank you.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIBRALTAR ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY  

Madam Speaker, 

 

 

Turning now to the Gibraltar Electricity Authority. 

 

 

The GEA team continues to work diligently to ensure that Gibraltar’s energy infrastructure remains reliable and fit for purpose. 

 

 

Nobody realises the importance of the GEA until there is a power cut.  

 

 

At the North Mole Power Station, all six generating sets have now completed their scheduled 18,000-hour overhauls.  

 

 

These are important service milestones, recommended by the manufacturer, and the GEA are already preparing for the next phase of maintenance.  

 

 

The station’s emissions control and monitoring systems are also calibrated annually, in full compliance with the conditions of our IPPC permit.  

 

 

This ensures that the plant continues to operate within the environmental parameters expected of us, and rightly so. 

 

 

Madam Speaker, it is important that I am upfront with this House.  

 

 

Overall                                                                                                    emissions     from          our   generating                                                                                                                                  assets remained consistent with the previous year.  

 

This was the result of a planned maintenance period at the LNG terminal which meant we had no choice but to run three dual-fuel generating sets on diesel for an extended period.  

 

 

Although not ideal, the circumstances were entirely unavoidable and, crucially, our emissions abatement systems remained fully operational throughout. 

 

 

There is, however, some very good news on the horizon. 

 

 

The Battery Energy Storage System, or BESS, is progressing on schedule and is due to be commissioned by the end of August 2025.  

 

 

And I’m pleased to inform the House that the battery has already arrived in Gibraltar.  

 

 

Once operational, the BESS will act as a spinning reserve, improving grid stability, reducing the risk of outages and enabling the GEA to decommission the temporary generators at North Mole.  

 

 

That will mean financial savings, greater energy security, and, most significantly, a further estimated 6% drop in carbon emissions. 

 

 

When combined with the reductions already achieved since the commissioning of the North Mole Power Station, this will represent a total emissions drop of nearly 35% from our power generation assets.  

 

 

That is a figure we should all be proud of. 

 

 

A figure that would never have been achieved with a diesel power plant.  

 

 

In terms of renewables, our installed capacity currently stands at 3 megawatts, but that will double to 6 megawatts in the near future as a result of new projects developed in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the private sector.  

 

 

These are exciting and important collaborations which will diversify our generation mix and reduce our carbon footprint even further. 

 

 

Madam Speaker, we are also exploring opportunities for new solar and wind energy installations.  

 

 

As always, we do this in a considered and evidence-led way, to ensure we maintain the right energy mix for Gibraltar’s needs. 

 

 

On the public lighting front, the GEA continues its systematic replacement programme, transitioning to LED and low-energy lanterns across Gibraltar.  

 

 

This is helping to reduce consumption and modernise infrastructure while delivering better lighting across our community. 

 

 

Madam Speaker, we have also invested approximately £3 million this past financial year in new substation equipment and cabling.  

 

 

These improvements are key to strengthening our distribution system and making it more resilient, particularly in the face of increasing demand.  

 

 

As                                                                                                             part      of      our   continued         focus                                                                                                                                  on         improvement    and accountability,                                                                                                                                  I   also asked       the   GEA to                                                                                                                                  undertake    a comprehensive review of its health and safety procedures.  

 

 

To that end, WSP were commissioned to carry out an “Operational and Occupational Health and Safety Gap Analysis 

Assessment of Health and Safety Work Practices at the GEA.”  

 

 

This independent assessment provides clear and constructive recommendations to ensure that health and safety best practices are not only met but embedded within the culture of the organisation.  

 

 

The report has been formally circulated to the GEA workforce and to the relevant Union representatives, ensuring full transparency and collaboration as we work to implement its recommendations. 

 

 

It reflects our Government’s commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of the GEA workforce and maintaining the highest standards across all operational areas. 

 

 

This is part of a wider workforce and pay review that the GEA and their union (at the time) requested. 

 

 

Again, I look forward to taking the workforce through those documents after the summer months.  

 

 

Madam Speaker, what all of this demonstrates is a clear trajectory. 

 

 

We are modernising our power infrastructure, we are reducing our emissions and we are doing so while ensuring Gibraltar remains energy secure and resilient for the future. 

 

 

I want to thank the entire team at the GEA for their work throughout the year.  

 

 

And, Madam Speaker, I want to take a moment to extend my personal thanks and best wishes to Mr Michael Caetano, the Chief Executive Officer of the GEA, who has very recently retired.  

 

 

Michael has been instrumental to the GEA over many years and oversaw the transition from the Old Power Station to the North Mole LNG Power Station we rely on today. 

 

 

Michael has been instrumental to change the way that power has been produced in Gibraltar – to create a power generation plant fit for the next few decades.  

 

All whilst producing cleaner energy for Gibraltar and earning the respect of this workforce.  

 

 

On behalf of the Government and I’m sure the whole House, I wish Michael a very happy and well-earned retirement.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOWN PLANNING AND BUILDING CONTROL 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to Town Planning and Building Control.  

 

The Town Planning Department continues to be one of the busiest technical areas of Government.  

 

During the past financial year, the department received around 560 planning applications, a consistent trend that shows how essential this work is to the continued development of our community. 

 

The estimated construction value of these applications exceeds £478 million.  

 

Application fees generated almost £940,000 in Government revenue.  

 

Let me say that again, almost one million pounds in fees, from development projects valued at nearly half a billion pounds.  

 

As ever, the types of applications submitted have ranged from small householder improvements to major infrastructure and residential schemes.  

 

Significant projects considered this year have included revised proposals for the new cable car system, including its upper and lower stations, the redevelopment of the ex-Queen’s Cinema site, the final phase of the Midtown scheme, the Bayside One development, the energy storage facility near the power station, the demolition of the Victoria Stadium, coastal protection works at Eastside and various high-profile proposals along Devil’s Tower Road, many of which are still under active review. 

 

These projects are not without complexity.  

 

Many of them involve detailed technical submissions, multiagency coordination and careful environmental and planning scrutiny.  

 

And with that complexity, comes additional work for the team.  

 

The reality is that the nature of planning in Gibraltar is changing and we need to make sure that our systems, our staffing and yes, our fee structures, change with it. –  

 

We will therefore begin a review of our planning application fee regime this year.   

 

In terms of public transparency, I am proud that all Development and Planning Commission meetings continue to be live streamed on the Government’s YouTube channel.  

This matters.  

 

It is important for public trust and I’m glad that Gibraltar continues to set the standard in making its planning process open and accessible.  

 

Long gone are the days, Madam Speaker, where the DPC was chaired by a Government Minister and was held, in secret, behind closed doors.  

 

To improve the quality and stability of this service, the department has scheduled an upgrade to its hardware and software systems, a much-needed investment that will make the system more resilient and user-friendly

 

I now turn to a major piece of work: the new Gibraltar Development Plan.  

 

I am pleased to confirm that following the appointment, via a tender process, of Lichfields, work on the Development Plan formally began in October 2024.  

 

Since then, the department has worked closely with the consultants to develop the evidence base and to prepare two specific pieces of guidance: one for the Northern District, centred on Devil’s Tower Road and another on Tall Buildings.  

 

Both of these guidance documents are now at an advanced stage and will be published in draft form ahead of the full consultation on the Development Plan itself. 

 

We have also had wide engagement with key stakeholders, including developers, NGOs, professional bodies, and of course, Government departments.  

 

The aim is to make this a genuinely collaborative process.  

 

We are now working towards the publication of a Consultation Draft this autumn, followed by a two-month public consultation.  

 

And let me say this clearly, as I have already said publicly before,  the Development Plan is not a tick-box exercise.  

 

It is an opportunity to shape the Gibraltar we want to see.  

 

A forward-looking, confident, and sustainable Gibraltar that builds with intention and purpose. 

 

It is about understanding where we came from and where we want to go,  just as the 1991 Plan helped shape modern Gibraltar by setting out our vision for the Finance Centre, the Westside reclamation, and key infrastructure, this new Plan will define how Gibraltar develops over the next 25 years. 

It must consider housing needs, green spaces, infrastructure resilience, our population growth, and the way we want to live, and yes, it must consider what kind of homes our children will live in. 

 

I want my own sons to be able to purchase their first home here in Gibraltar, from an affordable housing project, in a sustainable building. 

 

This is what a Development Plan does, Madam Speaker. 

 

If all goes to plan, Madam Speaker, we expect to adopt the final version of the new Development Plan by late summer next year.  

 

That will give us a robust, modern planning framework to guide our decisions for the next decade. 

 

Separately, I want to update the House on the review of the Development and Planning Commission and its procedures.  

 

This was one of our manifesto commitments and I am pleased to report that it is already well underway.  

 

The Town Planner is leading this work and the aim is simple: to make the system more efficient, more accessible and more userfriendly for the public.  

 

The review will be completed this summer and the Government will then consider its recommendations in full. 

 

On digital systems, our temporary E-Planning portal remains in place following the off lining of the original portal due to security issues.  

 

While it is not ideal, it has allowed us to maintain continuity of service.  

 

In the background, we are working closely with ITLD on a new, fully functional E-Planning platform.  

 

This will be supported by a rolling programme of back-end improvements to ensure it is fit for purpose, secure and efficient. 

 

BUILDING CONTROL 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

Turning now to Building Control. 

 

This team quietly gets on with a huge volume of complex work, regulating how we build in Gibraltar, making sure our structures are safe, legal and resilient. 

 

This year, we’ve continued our comprehensive review of 

Gibraltar’s Building Regulations. 

 

There are 11 remaining Parts of the code being revised and once that process is complete, we will have a full suite of modernised regulations aligned with UK and European standards.  

 

These updates will empower our Building Control Officers to enforce best practices, protect public safety and future-proof Gibraltar’s built environment. 

 

We are also progressing a parallel review of relevant parts of the Public Health Act, with the intention of creating Gibraltar’s firstever stand-alone Building Act.  

 

This, in my view, Madam Speaker, is long overdue and once enacted, will provide a clearer legal framework for everyone working in the sector; 

 architects, engineers, contractors, developers and homeowners. 

 

Separately, I am pleased to report that the National Seismic and Wind Annex for Gibraltar has now been finalised following detailed work by our external consultant.  

 

This annex will be incorporated into the Building Regulations, ensuring that Gibraltar’s structural design standards meet the realities of our local environment. 

And finally, I want to speak honestly about something I’ve been hearing more and more about, concerns from members of the public regarding poor workmanship by building contractors.  

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I would like to thank the department’s senior technical officers, Paul Naughton-Rumbo, James Sanguenetti and Ashley Harrison, and their respective teams, for the hard work they put in 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I now turn to Public Health. 

 

As I said in this House last year, our aim is always to keep people healthy and out of hospital.  

 

And that remains the central focus. 

 

So in this section, I will first speak about the work we have done on health and wellbeing.  

 

And then I will then move on to healthcare aspects of Public Health before ending with health protection. 

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING  

 

Over the last 12 months, a lot of work has taken place on the creation of the Covenant for Health, which, I am happy to report to the House, I intend to publish before the end of the year. 

 

This will be Gibraltar’s primary prevention strategy. 

 

It will be our long-term strategy to shift the focus from illness to wellness and to improve the health of our entire population. 

And Madam Speaker, I want to briefly share with the House a particular experience I’ve had this year which I believe speaks volumes about the importance of this work. 

 

I was invited to participate in the Global Legislators Initiative for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health.  

 

These are diseases that don’t come from infections.  

 

They are things like heart attacks, cancer, diabetes and kidney disease. 

 

The very illnesses that remain the leading causes of poor health and premature death in Gibraltar. 

 

This forum of Ministers from around the world heard from international experts, including those working with the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.  

 

We explored how we, as legislators, can create policies that address the root causes of ill health 

 

Because those root causes are clear; 

 

Smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, excess sugar, salt and trans fats. 

These are the building blocks of the Covenant for Health, and I was honoured, as a result of my work with this initiative, to be invited last month to the G20 and G7 Health Summit 2025 in Geneva and to speak on a panel hosted by the World Health Organisation.  

 

But Madam Speaker, if we are serious about pivoting from illness to prevention, we must be bold.  

 

And we must be brave. 

 

That is why I issued the command paper for a Smoke Free Generation earlier this year. 

 

Let me be very clear: smoking remains the single greatest threat to public health in Gibraltar. 

 

The harms are proven.  

 

The dangers of passive smoking are proven.  

 

The emerging risks of vaping are real.  

 

This is why the Director of Public Health has been consistent in her message: “If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.” 

And yet we know that young people, many of them non-smokers, are being drawn into vaping.  

 

Why?  

 

Because nicotine is addictive. 

 

Highly addictive.  

 

This is not about lifestyle or choice, it’s about addiction.  

 

And we know that the vast majority of people who still smoke would not do so if they could go back and make the choice again. 

 

That’s why we must act.  

 

Because we have the opportunity to build a Smoke Free Generation. 

 

Madam Speaker, demand for smoking cessation services continues to rise. 

 

In 2024, our focus was on expanding access to people with mental health conditions.  

 

An outreach model has now been developed to support them more effectively. 

 

Over 700 people attended the GHA Smoking Cessation Clinic between 1st June 2024 and 1st June 2025. 

 

Over the next year, our focus will turn to pregnant women. 

 

There are NO SAFE LEVELS of smoking in pregnancy. 

 

The consequences (miscarriage and stillbirth) are tragic, and they are preventable. 

 

Our midwives will now consistently offer carbon monoxide breath testing to every pregnant woman.  

 

High levels may mean the mother is smoking or being exposed to second-hand smoke.  

 

The GHA will ensure that every week, there are emergency slots available at the cessation clinic so that pregnant women, and their families, can get immediate support. 

 

Madam Speaker, it’s not just tobacco and vaping that put our health at risk.  

Alcohol and drug misuse also contribute significantly to poor health outcomes. 

 

Because, Madam Speaker, even though the Director of Public Health sits in my ministry, Public Health must sit across all of Government. 

 

Over the past year, the Director of Public Health has worked closely with my friend and colleague, the Minister for Equality, who chairs the Drug Advisory Council.  

 

Together, they’ve developed Gibraltar’s Drug and Alcohol 

Strategy.  

 

A Surveillance Subgroup has been established. 

 

A Benzodiazepines Task and Finish Group has begun its work. 

 

No one department can solve these issues alone.  

 

That is why Public Health has an important role in bringing people together and tackling the root causes of ill health. 

 

Madam Speaker, that role is also deeply connected to the transformation of our Community Mental Health Services. 

That transformation is being supported by a powerful anti-stigma campaign, being delivered in partnership between Public Health, Clubhouse, GibSams, the Mental Welfare Society, the Care Agency, the GHA and the University of Gibraltar. 

 

Over the last 12 months, local research has helped us understand what stigma feels like here in Gibraltar. 

 

We’ve also recruited and trained voluntary community champions who will take this campaign forward in the year ahead. 

 

Because reducing stigma is how we open doors.  

 

It’s how we help people access care, in the right place, at the right time, without fear. 

 

And that, Madam Speaker, brings me to another area of work that sits at the intersection of prevention and vulnerability: 

 

Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs. 

 

These are traumatic events in childhood.  

 

Abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, mental illness, or substance misuse in the home. 

The science is clear.  

 

Children who experience five or more ACEs are eight times more likely to become alcoholic in adulthood. 

 

Childhood shapes adulthood.  

 

Always. 

 

That is why the Director of Public Health established a multiagency task and finish group.  

 

Together, they’ve mapped services, reviewed protective factors, and are now finalising recommendations to break the cycle. 

 

These will be shared with Ministers and the Child Protection Committee later this year. 

 

SCREEN TIME 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to a new and growing public health concern, screen time among our young people. 

 

Madam Speaker, as Honourable Members will know, we recently conducted the Gibraltar School Survey 2024 on Adolescent Screen Use, which was led by a joint partnership between Public Health Gibraltar, the GHA’s Department of Paediatrics, the University of Gibraltar and the Department of Education. 

 

The results, Madam Speaker, demand our attention. 

 

The survey reached over 2,400 students across Westside, Bayside, Gibraltar College and Prior Park, representing nearly 78% of all students in Years 7 to 13. 

 

And here’s what we learned. 

 

By Year 13, nearly 100% of students use smartphones. 

 

Almost half use their phone within 10 minutes of waking up on a school day, and one in four uses a screen until the moment they fall asleep. 

 

Over 65% of adolescents believe they have no parental controls on any of their devices. 

 

And 27% of students say their parents know little or nothing about what they’re doing online. 

 

Madam Speaker, we all know technology is part of modern life.  

 

But when screen use is interfering with sleep, school performance and mental health, when young people tell us they’re using screens to escape problems and feel anxious or irritable when they’re disconnected, we have a duty to act. 

 

This isn’t just about time on screens. 

 

It’s about problematic behaviours linked to mobile phones, gaming and social media. 

 

12.5% of students scored above the risk threshold for social media addiction. 

 

One in five students reported some level of problematic gaming behaviour. 

 

And crucially, problematic screen use scores were higher among students who feel isolated from their peers, report lower academic performance, or do no regular exercise. 

 

Madam Speaker, the data shows that prevention means more than telling children to put their phones away. 

 

It means strengthening relationships, encouraging sport and activity, improving sleep hygiene and working with families to foster healthy digital habits from the earliest years. 

 

Madam Speaker, most of us are parents in this House.  

 

The result of this study needs to be brought to the attention of every single parent in Gibraltar.  

 

We have a duty to inform parents of the consequences of excess screen use.  

 

And I would suggest to the Honourable Members Opposite that this should be a cross-party initiative.  

 

This is why I am announcing a cross-party working group, which will involve my friend and colleague the Honourable the Minister for Education and which will meet as soon as possible to review the full implications of this study in detail.  

 

I hope that Honourable Members Oppositive accept my invitation to collaborate and work together on this issue. 

 

Public Health Gibraltar is already using this data to inform the next phase of our prevention agenda and will also form part of this working group.  

 

Integrating digital wellbeing into the Covenant for Health, developing awareness campaigns and ensuring that our schools, health professionals and parents are equipped with the tools to respond. 

 

Because Madam Speaker, just as we wouldn’t ignore a public health threat from tobacco, we must not ignore this one. 

 

Our children’s brains, their development, their social lives, their mental health, are all shaped by how they interact with digital spaces. 

 

And if we are really serious about prevention, then we must ensure that digital wellbeing becomes a cornerstone of our future public health strategy. 

 

HEALTH CARE PUBLIC HEALTH 

 

Madam Speaker, I now want to move on to the healthcare aspects of Public Health and, in particular, our work on screening and secondary prevention. 

 

The Director of Public Health has led the improvement of the cervical screening programme, starting with a root-and-branch review in August 2023.  

 

That review led to the repatriation of liquid-based cytology, the purchase of new lab equipment and the recruitment and training of 1 Biomedical Scientist.  

 

The existing Cytopathologist also undertook specialist training in cytology reporting. All lab staff have been trained in the maintenance and running of the new equipment. 

 

The recall exercise I announced on 2nd April has already sent text messages to 2109 women.  

 

This is in addition to the routine recall screening that continue as normal. 

 

599 women have responded using the SMS link.  

 

More have called and been booked. 

 

311 have been screened.  

 

And, Madam Speaker, 3 very early cervical cancers have been picked up by our new system.  

 

Madam Speaker, this is what we should be celebrating.  

 

THIS is the reason I embarked on this role – to improve the service.  

 

And many more women are booked in. 

 

I am confident that we now have a gold-standard cervical screening service, comparable, if not better, than many countries. 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

It would be remiss of me to speak about cervical screening and not address the comments made by the Opposition at the time we announced our review.  

 

The GSD claimed that the programme was neglected, that there were delays in recalls and that this Government failed to act. 

 

Let me be absolutely clear. 

 

We took the decision to repatriate testing and invest in the necessary laboratory infrastructure because we believed women in Gibraltar deserved a gold-standard service. 

 

We did not ignore the problem. 

 

We fixed it. 

 

We now have a comprehensive recall system, equipment that meets international gold standard benchmarks, trained laboratory staff and a robust governance structure that ensures safety and quality. 

 

And we didn’t stop there. 

 

We have commissioned an independent review of all 12 screening programmes, so that every person in Gibraltar can be confident that their screening service is based on clinical evidence. 

 

So Madam Speaker, while the Opposition chose to politicise women’s health, this Government has chosen to protect it, strengthen it and future-proof it. 

 

That is the difference between noise and action. 

 

Indeed, I invited the Honourable Lady publicly to come and see for herself and stand by the GHA as we strengthened the programme, but, Madam Speaker, regrettably the invitation was ignored.  

 

That is the difference between blame and responsibility. 

 

And I will always choose the latter. 

 

I will always choose dialogue. 

 

I will continue to extend the hand, no matter how many times it is ignored and scorned.  

 

I will always choose collaboration, despite the many instances, where, unfortunately, this has not been reciprocated.  

 

That independent report, Madam Speaker, has now been considered by the Board and concluded that the programmes will be reviewed, screening programme by screening programme. 

 

Madam Speaker, the aim is ALWAYS to continue improving the GHA.  

 

HEALTH PROTECTION 

 

And finally, Madam Speaker, I turn to health protection. 

 

Public Health protection is about shielding the population from infectious disease, environmental hazards and climate risks. 

 

Over the last year, work has continued to ensure we meet international standards, including compliance with the International Health Regulations and preparations for the WHO Pandemic Accord. 

 

The Director of Public Health has worked with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to update the Public Health Act 1950, and to draft a new Health Protection Act 2025-which I will bring to this House later this year. 

 

I am also very pleased to say that we have now also developed an electronic system for disease notifications, with alerts triggered accordingly.   

 

This improves early detection and lets us act quickly. 

 

From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, there were 138 notifications of infectious diseases.  

 

Every single case required a risk assessment, triage, and, where necessary, contact tracing and public health intervention. 

 

In that same period, Gibraltar reviewed and responded to 122 global health alerts from the WHO.  

 

These included TB, meningitis, avian flu, mumps and measles. 

 

Inside the GHA, the Infection Prevention and Control team has a crucial role, especially as we face the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.  

 

That is when common infections stop responding to antibiotics. 

 

This year, the IPC team carried out 20 audits and infection control walkabouts. 

 

In fact, I was delighted to join them on one such walkabout, and in one such meeting, to better understand for myself the importance of infection control and the great work that team does throughout the year. 

 

I want to ensure that the audits are then fed through to the correct departments who action them immediately, without the need for further action.  

 

Their work was particularly vital during the winter surge in January, when 35 adults and 30 children were admitted with flu.  

 

Most had not received the seasonal vaccine, despite being eligible. 

 

That’s why this autumn we will be promoting the flu vaccine more proactively than ever. 

 

Madam Speaker, we’ve all seen the impact of climate change.  

 

This winter and spring brought relentless storms and rainfall.  

 

Summer brings heat. 

 

Like other countries in Europe, we see excess deaths and hospital admissions during heatwaves. 

 

That is why I am proud to announce that from 1st July this year, Gibraltar has launched its first Heatwave Health Alert System- developed in partnership between Public Health, the Ministry for the Environment and the Met Office. 

 

Because Madam Speaker, Public Health is not just about preventing disease. 

 

It’s about building the conditions in which people can live longer, healthier and happier lives. 

 

And that is what I remain determined to deliver. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY (GHA)  

Madam Speaker, 

 

It is fair to say that the Health and Care sector has seen heightened attention and a degree of unrest in recent weeks, particularly within the Gibraltar Health Authority.  

 

So I want to begin this section by acknowledging that openly. 

 

Concerns raised in the nursing sector have been taken seriously.  

 

As I confirmed in Parliament last week, Madam Speaker, the Clinical Nurse Managers are conducting an acuity review for the wards as understaffing appears to be a chronic concern.   

 

The review, which was due to have been submitted on 9th June, was submitted to the Director General yesterday. 

 

I have asked for weekly meetings with the DG and the Director of Nursing, specifically to address this, and to address the balance between agency and GHA staffing levels.  

 

The Honourable the Leader of the Opposition asked me to explain why under “OTHER COVER” we are projecting a spend of £3.4 million, which is less than half of the forecast outturn for last year.  

   

Madam Speaker, let me be very clear. 

 

In the GHA we want to recruit substantive nurses rather than have nurses continue working through bank or through agency.  

 

That has to be the clear policy of the GHA. 

 

We are therefore looking at different ways of reducing the cover provided through this head.  

 

It costs the same to the public purse whether you have the nurse as BANK and it comes under the OTHER COVER subhead in the Book OR you have them substantively employed.  

 

Of course, the preference is ALWAYS to have the substantive, better quality post.  

 

Because an individual is only going to be happier when they are permanently employed.  

 

So, let me explain this with numbers.  

 

In 2011/12, that is to say, when the GSD left office, there were 389.5 nurses in the GHA complement and NO supernumerary staff.  

 

Fast forward to this financial year, Madam Speaker, and there are now 544.5 nurses in the GHA complement, and an additional 38 supernumerary nurses.  

 

Madam Speaker, so that members opposite do not have to take out their calculators, I shall be helpful and provide the difference.  

 

544.5 plus 38 is 582.5 nurses. 

 

That is our current nursing complement. This excludes all AGENCY and BANK nurses.  

 

In 2011, they had 389.5 nurses. 

 

That means, Madam Speaker, we now have 193 additional nurses.  

 

Yes, Madam Speaker, we have increased the complement by 193 nurses in 14 years and are still told by the Honourable Lady opposite that staffing levels in the hospital are dangerously low. 

 

And before they jump up and say, “AHH but you have increased services”, which Madam Speaker, we have done and are very proud of having done so.  

 

The increase in the number of nurses by 193 in 14 years, DOES NOT, correlate with the increase in services requiring nurses.  

 

Let me take this one step further, Madam Speaker.  

 

In 2010/2011 the forecast outturn for RELIEF COVER was £3.58 million.  

 

The FORECAST OUTTURN this year for AGENCY AND NURSE COVER, which is contained under OTHER COVER, in line 24 on page 205 is £7.49 million, which is ENTIRELY made up of bank and agency nurses and, Madam Speaker, additionally, 60% of the BANK COVER at line 23 of page 205 of £3.255 million is ALSO going toward the nursing complement.  

 

Madam Speaker, let me summarise this again for the Honourable the Leader of the Opposition, and the Honourable Ms Ladislaus, that is ALMOST an additional £9.4 MILLION spent on nursing staff over and above the complement of 589.5 nurses.  

 

Dangerously low, Madam Speaker?? 

 

SERIOUSLY.  

 

I have asked for weekly meetings with the Director General and the Nursing Director, to explain why the Honourable Lady is NOT 

BUMPING INTO NURSES AT EVERY CORNER, WHEN SHE WALKS INTO THE HOSPITAL, MADAM SPEAKER.  

 

We are closely monitoring the use of agency nurses, with a clear goal to reduce these and to strengthen our core GHA workforce. 

As I have already explained, a major transformation has taken place in our approach to close supervision (that is to say, 1:1 care).  

 

This has led to the implementation of more bespoke models of patient support, freeing up staff and reducing risk. 

 

This WILL lead to less agency staff in the hospital, and, in turn, less costs.  

 

We are looking at the complement and ensuring that there are jobs available for returning students.  

 

Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition also asked me to explain why LOCUM COVER was £2 million less than last year.  

 

Madam Speaker, EVENTUALLY, the Leader of the Opposition will learn that when I say I will do something, I will ACTUALLY do it.  

 

Perhaps if I was a man he would stop accusing me of only taking photo opportunities and believe that I actually do my job.  

 

Maybe he should start doing his! 

 

Madam Speaker, last year I explained IN MY BUDGET SPEECH, that we should have less locums in the hospital and more substantive posts.  

This was reflected in the complement section of the budget book last year. 

 

Madam Speaker, I took the House through that last year and my speech is already long enough, so I do not intend to take the house through that again this year.  

 

I do NOT cut and paste by speeches, Madam Speaker.  

 

LOCUM COVER is two million pounds less because that has now been included in salaries.  

 

We are using less locums and have more substantive posts. 

 

So, from line 22 on page 205 of the book, it has moved to line 1 on page 204 under personal emoluments  

 

Madam Speaker, we do what we say we will do.  

 

Moving on, in respect of Allied Health Professionals, Madam Speaker, we are conducting a detailed review of their current terms in comparison to UK equivalents, with a commitment to respond on this matter by the end of July.  

 

Discussions on “Agenda for Change” and its appropriate remit are ongoing.  

We will be setting clear parameters and timelines for that work, and it will require a collaborative effort from unions, management and government alike. 

 

Work continues with Unite the Union on a number of outstanding claims.  

 

I held a three-and-a-half hour meeting with the Unions on 11th June to try to reach agreement on a consolidated list – yes, Madam Speaker, whilst the Chief Minister was in Brussels announcing an historic agreement, I was 2 hours into my meeting with Unite the Union on pay claims and other matters. 

 

This followed repeated difficulties in receiving a definitive list from Unite, as different versions had been submitted at different times.  

 

At the conclusion of that meeting, the list was agreed in principle as final. 

 

A demonstration was then held on the 18th June, despite Unite stating in an email to members and I quote “It is indisputable that progress on the issues of concern has been made across the last two weeks with clear commitments to further progress on a weekly basis, plus the news this week of a political agreement on a treaty will mean that there will be greater scope to meet those claims with a financial implication” end quote.

 

Following this, the Director General confirmed in writing that weekly meetings would continue to review the list in detail.  

 

These meetings have been scheduled every Friday, with the first one being this coming Friday, and a dedicated Industrial Relations Officer has now been appointed within the GHA to lead on this work.  

 

This officer has already begun direct engagement with relevant union representatives.  

 

A specific GHA Senior Crown Counsel is also working alongside the team to assist with the legal review of claims. 

 

We recognise the importance of providing a reliable and consistent process for all staff concerns.  

 

But that process also requires accurate information, consistent engagement and constructive dialogue from all sides. 

 

We are proving that we are taking this seriously.  

 

I remain committed to working with Unite, and indeed with any union or individual who wishes to engage in good faith.  

 

I have always said, and will continue to say, that my door is open. 

 

We will, as always, listen the concerns of the workforce.  

 

And so, Madam Speaker, before I get into the usual details related to the Gibraltar Health Authority, I want to move into something which is more fundamental, and by that, Madam Speaker, I am referring to the way we run the system itself. 

 

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE RESTRUCTURE 

 

Last year, I stood here and said that we needed to fix the way our health and care services talk to each other. 

 

That we needed to join up the GHA, the Care Agency and Elderly Residential Services so that patients, especially those with complex needs, get a better, more joined up experience. 

 

And, Madam Speaker, I meant it. 

 

Madam Speaker, very soon, I shall be publishing a Bill that creates the Gibraltar Health and Social Care Authority.  

 

It brings the GHA, the Care Agency and ERS together under one corporate board.  

 

Not as a merger, not as a cost-cutting gimmick, but as a proper reform.  

 

One that recognises that people don’t live in neat boxes marked “medical”, “social” or “elderly”. 

 

And I want to be absolutely clear, this will not mean shared complements.  

 

Each of the three separate entities shall maintain their own complements.  

 

The GHA will stay focused on clinical health care.  

 

The Care Agency will keep delivering social support.  

 

ERS will continue caring for our elderly.  

 

But what will change is how these services work together. 

 

Too often, Madam Speaker, our professionals are doing their best in silos that don’t always speak to each other. 

 

I shared my frustrations about this earlier on  

 

This restructure changes that. 

 

It gives us one Board, one Chair, which is now me as the Minister for Health and Care, one line of accountability and a framework where financial oversight is strong, but clinical independence is protected. 

 

Because let me say this clearly, I will not and do not interfere in clinical decisions.  

 

The doctors will be the ones that decide what happens at the bedside.  

 

Not me.  

 

And not anyone in this House. 

 

The Ministry is involved in setting policy.  

 

The public deserves to know that their £224 million is being spent wisely, with proper checks and balances. 

 

And that is why, Madam Speaker, since taking over as Chair of the GHA Board in November, one of the first things I did was bring back the GHA Public Meetings.  

 

Because if we say we’re serious about transparency, then we need to show up, in public, and answer their questions. 

 

That’s what accountability looks like. 

 

So on the 4th of March this year, we held the first public meeting at the University of Gibraltar.  

 

It was really well attended, and I want to thank everyone who took the time to come.  

 

We presented our plans for the new Oncology Suite. 

 

We outlined the changes we’re making to Mental Health services.  

 

And then, we opened the floor. 

 

We listened.  

 

And we took notes. 

 

And so the next meeting will take place after the summer, on the 18th September, and I encourage everyone with an interest in health and care to attend.  

 

More details will be announced in due course.  

 

So yes, Madam Speaker, this has been a year of reform and restructure.  

 

Not small, cosmetic tweaks.  

 

Not soundbites.  

 

Real reform.  

 

Reform that protects independence, enhances transparency, and delivers better outcomes. 

 

Because if we’re serious about Health and Social Care, then we have to be serious about how we run it. 

 

And Madam Speaker, this is about being able to deliver.  

 

One of the key reforms I was determined to implement as part of this restructure was the creation of the GHA’s first-ever Internal Audit Department.  

 

Led by Terence Chichon, a highly experienced public sector auditor, this office is already reviewing our systems and identifying where improvements can be made. 

 

This is not just about cost control. 

 

It is about service quality.  

 

Every inefficiency they find is a chance to redirect resources toward patient care.  

 

The team is already conducting internal audits across multiple areas and their findings will help us improve compliance, reduce risk and ensure smarter spending. 

 

Because while we’ve been restructuring at the top, we’ve also been delivering at the front line.  

 

We’ve been seeing more patients. 

 

Performed more operations.  

 

Reduced waiting times.  

 

And modernised how care is delivered. 

 

So let’s talk about what this debate is really all about—what we’ve delivered, what it has cost and what’s next for the Gibraltar Health Authority.

 

The forecast outturn for both the GHA and ERS for 2024/25 stood at just over £206 million.  

 

This, Madam Speaker, represents an overspend of £21 million over the original allocation of just over £185 million. 

 

Of this, the Gibraltar Health Authority accounted for £19.4 million of the overspend and the Elderly Residential Services accounted for £1.6 million. 

 

Now, Madam Speaker, the GSD, and Ms Ladislaus and Ms Sanchez in particular, cannot question services, cannot ask for pay rises, cannot ask me to increase complements, and then criticise us for any overspend.  

 

There needs to be consistency in the messaging from the Opposition.  

 

And there isn’t.  

 

Because if we want a new Cath Lab, then we need to fund it.  

 

If we want more nurses, then we need to pay for them.  

 

If we want a greater complement, and if we want new and better facilities, then, the simple reality is that this costs money.  

 

And there will be those who will jump to criticise this as financial mismanagement.  

 

But I say to them, Madam Speaker, take a closer look.  

 

This overspend is not a sign of failure. 

 

It is a sign of increased access, of more appointments, of shorter waiting lists and of state-of-the-art new services coming online.  

 

And it is a reflection of the reality of modern medicine, a world where one orphan drug can cost over £500,000, and a single specialist placement can exceed £1 million.  

 

Just imagine, Madam Speaker, that, god forbid, you or a family member or yours are that individual needing that one orphan drug costing half a million or needing that specialist placement. 

 

And Madam Speaker, I make no apology for putting patients first. 

 

In fact, Madam Speaker, I am proud to report that healthcare provision at the GHA in 2024/25 has been a story of progress and it has been hugely successful.  

 

We have increased activity across the board.  

 

More people have been seen.  

 

More operations performed.  

More appointments offered.  

 

And our waiting lists continue to fall.  

 

New units are being built, as I will explain later on in my speech, and new models of care are being designed to meet the evolving needs of our community. 

 

And to be able to do all of this, Madam Speaker, we have allocated £166 million to the GHA and £27 million to ERS. 

 

Not £180 million to the GHA, as the Leader of the Opposition said in his budget speech.  

 

Despite it being clearly set out in the estimates book, the Leader of the Opposition failed to realise the payroll for ERS, is now included within the GHA section.  

 

Madam Speaker, the GHA and ERS have been one legal entity for some time, however, as the book shows, their complements remain separate.  

 

So Madam Speaker, this is how we spend your money.  

 

Madam Speaker, I wish I could give everyone the pay rises they want.  

I wish I had the budget to do so. 

 

But, Madam Speaker, I need to do the difficult task of balancing patient services with the budget.  

 

That does not mean that it is not my view, or my desire, to give everyone in the GHA a pay rise.  

 

Although Madam Speaker, as the Chief Minster announced earlier this week, everyone in the Public Sector will be receiving a pay rise this year, and this includes those in the GHA. 

 

And Madam Speaker, it would not be lost on anyone, that Ms Ladislaus and Ms Sanchez were at the demonstration on AHP pay rises. Ms Ladislaus also claims she was at the other wider health and care demonstration, although Mr Clinton was nowhere to be seen. 

 

Because Mr Clinton just wants to cut, cut and cut – and there is no consistency is the messaging from the GSD. 

 

ACUTE SERVICES AT ST BERNARD’S HOSPITAL 

 

Madam Speaker, the delivery of acute care at St Bernard's Hospital has undergone significant transformation this past year, with record-breaking levels of activity and several major service innovations. 

The Division of Medicine, arguably one of the most complex and multifaceted within the GHA, now encompasses a broad spectrum of specialist services, from radiology to elderly care, oncology to diabetes. 

 

Madam Speaker, it is impossible for me to go through every single change that has been made, or we will literally be here all night, but let me highlight some of the most impactful changes. 

 

I am very pleased to say, Madam Speaker, that we have successfully developed an in-house rheumatology service, which now operates dedicated monitoring of DMARD (Or specialised medication) prescriptions.  

 

This has removed reliance on external providers and allowed for more local and timely care for chronic patients. 

 

Again, Madam Speaker, moving from LOCUMS to SUBSTANTIVE posts.  

 

Madam Speaker, I am proud to update this House on one of the most significant developments in Gibraltar’s cancer services to date, and that is the construction of our brand new Oncology Suite, which is now well underway. 

 

This new facility will significantly improve the patient experience and allow for more oncology services to be delivered here in Gibraltar.  

 

Madam Speaker, I am very excited to soon be able to officially inaugurate this new and magnificent facility. 

 

I must say, Madam Speaker, I am particularly proud of the thought that has gone into its design: our new oncology suite will be equipped with an acute hospital bed, so that any oncology outpatient requiring urgent medical assistance can go directly to the suite, rather than needing to attend A&E.  

 

This will help us offer more appropriate and specialised care in a setting tailored for oncology patients. 

 

And Madam Speaker, the transformation is quite extraordinary.  

 

What is currently the entire oncology suite will actually be the size of the new waiting area alone.  

 

Let me say that again, Madam Speaker, because it really is quite extraordinary.  

 

The footprint of what is now the entire oncology suite, will be the new waiting area ALONE of the new unit. 

 

And, additionally, Madam Speaker, thanks to a very generous donation from the Barzilai foundation, our oncology patients will soon have a magnificent terrace with incredible views of the Bay to enjoy whilst receiving treatment.  

 

Madam Speaker, I was delighted to invite our local cancer charities, including the Hon Mr Sacarello, to visit and see the progress of the oncology suite a couple of months ago and, Madam Speaker, I am happy to report that the suite is currently scheduled to be completed in the Autumn of this year.  

 

I will, of course, commit to inviting them all back for the official opening of the suite and will also invite the Honourable Lady and hope she attends on this occasion.  

 

Madam Speaker, a new specialist nurse in haematology has been appointed, improving the diagnosis and management of both malignant and non-malignant haematological conditions. 

 

The expansion of specialist nursing capability is essential to reducing waiting times and enhancing patient support. 

 

Perhaps one of the most powerful examples of innovation this year has been the establishment of the Older People’s Medicine Team, which has transformed the way elderly and frail patients are treated.  

 

Every such patient admitted to St Bernard's Hospital now falls under the care of the OPM Team.  

 

This improves the continuity of care and reduces the length of stay.  

 

It means, Madam Speaker, that more beds become available sooner and you have a qualified geriatrician looking after the elderly – which is what you would expect.  

 

It also, Madam Speaker, streamlines discharge planning.  

 

I pay tribute to the medical, nursing and allied health staff who helped design and implement this initiative. 

 

It means better care by relevant professionals for the elderly.  

 

In my view, this is a blueprint for multidisciplinary reform. 

 

This is important for the nursing staff to understand and is why, as I have already explained, we are looking to reduce the expenditure on OTHER COVER.  

 

We do not WANT more agency staff; we want to limit these numbers as much as possible and employ Gibraltarian nurses DIRECTLY into the nursing complement.  

 

But these changes, Madam Speaker, cannot happen overnight.  

 

They take time to formulate and to train and move staff.  

 

But, Madam Speaker, we are on it. 

 

And the results speak for themselves.  

 

This has resulted in an estimated annual cost saving of over £1 million, while also improving clinical quality. 

SURGICAL SERVICES 

 

Madam Speaker, moving on, Surgical Services have delivered exceptional results this year through strategic planning, operational reform and their relentless focus on cutting waiting times while maintaining the highest standards of clinical care. 

 

I am pleased to report that we have achieved a significant reduction in the median waiting time for all surgeries. 

 

This has gone, across all surgeries, from 22 weeks in 2022 to just 8 weeks in 2024.  

 

Yes, Madam Speaker, that is a reduction of 14 weeks! 

 

In orthopaedics specifically, the median wait has dropped even more dramatically 

From 40 weeks to JUST 5 weeks. 

 

These are not just statistics, Madam Speaker.  

 

They represent faster treatment, less anxiety and better outcomes for hundreds of patients and their families. 

 

Madam Speaker, the GHA surgical team completed a total of 4,041 surgical procedures last year.  

 

This is up 4.1% from last year’s figure and is an increase of 17% compared to 2022.  

 

Madam Speaker, these procedures were delivered through three main theatres at St Bernard’s Hospital and supported by an increased number of day surgeries, with the 4th theatre operating at 60% capacity compared to 35% the year before.  

 

We will aim to increase this even further in this next financial year.  

 

To support this increase in capacity, we have implemented significant changes to the patient journey. 

 

Madam Speaker, I was delighted to officially inaugurate Gibraltar’s first ever One-Stop Shop Urology Clinic at St Bernard’s Hospital in November last year. 

This new clinic has transformed the way we deliver urological care.  

 

All new referrals are now assessed in dedicated clinical sessions where patients receive a full suite of diagnostic assessments during a SINGLE visit.  

 

 

Importantly, the clinic also includes a walk-in clinical consulting room, offering same-day reviews for any urgent urological concerns. 

 

This initiative has been made possible through close collaboration between the GHA, Prostate Cancer Gibraltar and the Kusuma 

Trust.  

 

And as Prostate Cancer Gibraltar Chairman Joe Holiday, and the former GSD Deputy Chief Minister, rightly said, this new model provides patients with faster, more efficient medical attention, with all required facilities located in one place.  

 

This is what joined-up healthcare looks like.  

 

This is what partnership looks like. 

 

And this is what progress looks like. 

We have introduced a nurse-led Pre-Operative Assessment Pathway, which has improved efficiency and reduced cancellations. 

 

Our “prehabilitation” initiative now supports high-risk surgical patients by preparing them physically and mentally for surgery, often reducing postoperative complications and recovery time. 

 

The surgical team has also enhanced their multidisciplinary approach.  

 

Anaesthetists, surgical consultants, nurses and AHPs are now jointly assessing patients and ensuring their care is optimised at every stage. 

 

Crucially, therefore, Madam Speaker, our theatre efficiency rate has risen to over 85%, a level consistent with top-performing hospitals in the UK.  

 

Cancellation rates have halved. 

 

Thanks to initiatives like the ring-fenced orthopaedic beds at Dudley Toomey Ward, surgical throughput remains protected even during periods of peak hospital occupancy. 

 

Gone are the days, Madam Speaker, when we had to cancel surgeries as a result of bed shortages at St Bernard’s Hospital.  

 

Further reform includes the expansion of the maternity training programme, with targeted simulation training in obstetric emergencies.  

 

We’ve seen increased confidence and capability across the multidisciplinary maternity team as a result. 

 

We’ve also begun integrating surgical pharmacists into the pathway, and the rollout of Omnicell, which I spoke about in detail last year, and which I was pleased to invite the Honourable Ms Ladislaus to see, has improved our stock control and saved valuable staff time. 

 

She actually turned up that time. 

 

Madam Speaker, this division’s approach is a model of how targeted investment, front-line innovation and operational reform can work together to deliver extraordinary results. 

 

PRIMARY CARE AND INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SERVICES 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to Primary Care. 

 

From the very start of this year, I made it clear that Primary Care was going to be one of my absolute priorities. 

 

Because this is where most people first engage with the GHA. 

 

And for too long, Madam Speaker, people have felt frustrated by how hard it has been to access GP appointments. 

 

And it is not, Madam Speaker, for any lack of investment on our part to the GP complement which has doubled since 2011.  

 

So earlier this year, I established the PCC Taskforce, which I chair, and which meets every two weeks in my office.  

 

Not as a talking shop, Madam Speaker, but as a focused, working group made up of clinicians, administrative staff and operational and divisional leads.  

 

The task was clear: 

 

to increase appointments, 

 

to reduce wasted appointments 

 

And improve the patient experience. 

And we have delivered. 

 

GP appointment availability has increased by 5.9%, with over 8,500 additional appointments offered in 2024/25, rising from 144,267 to 152,828. 

 

We have also tackled inefficiency. 

 

The “Did Not Attend” rate dropped from 3.8% to 3.2%, ensuring appointments are not wasted and clinicians’ time is respected. 

 

We’ve redesigned the internal footprint of the PCC, creating more fully equipped clinic rooms and enabling a more responsive allocation of space to meet peak demand.  

 

Mondays, post-holiday periods and seasonal surges are now managed better.  

 

Madam Speaker, these changes are real.  

 

They are working.  

 

And they are increasing public confidence in our GHA. 

 

We also took common sense steps to remove pressure from the system. 

 

We re-introduced a dedicated Sick Note Line, available weekday mornings between 8:15 and 9:15am, so that patients needing a sick note, but do not require to see a GP, do not need to take up a full GP slot. 

 

This builds on the existing online sick note service via the eGov platform, giving people multiple ways to get a sick note without delay. 

 

Additionally, Madam Speaker, to further reduce missed appointments, we have launched a new appointment reminder system which combines the existing SMS alerts with a preappointment phone call. 

 

This simple step has already freed up more appointment slots every single day. 

 

Madam Speaker, this means that the general public does not have to rush at 8:15am for an appointment. 

 

This means that there are usually appointments available until 11am/or Midday on most days and on some occasions there have even been excess appointments.  

 

Who would have thought this possible a mere 12 months ago.  

All of this, Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to say, has been achieved at ZERO additional cost to the taxpayer.  

 

Primary Care has also expanded its reach in mental health, women’s health and neurodiversity.  

 

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, one of the priorities for me as Minister for Health and Care has been to improve the support                                                                                         available for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, especially children and young people. 

 

Last                                                                                                          year,     we    published Gibraltar’s         first                                                                                                                                  ever Neurodevelopmental    Pathway   and                                                                                                                                  the       Autism      Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Pathway. 

 

These established a structured, multidisciplinary framework for diagnosis and support. 

 

This year, I was pleased to publish our specific ADHD Pathway for children and young people.  

 

This ADHD Pathway outlines a clear journey across preassessment, assessment and post-assessment stages.  

 

It is person-centred, multidisciplinary and was developed through close collaboration between the GHA, Department of Education, the Supported Needs and Disability Office and the Care Agency. 

 

What sets this pathway apart is its commitment to ongoing support and NOT JUST diagnosis.   

 

This means that we have seen significant improvement in access to Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists throughout the year.  

 

The approach is now far more multi-disciplinary across the spectrum of these Allied Health Professionals.  

 

I thank all the professionals involved in drafting this document, and I especially want to recognise the cross-Ministerial effort with my friends and colleagues the Minister for Education and the Minister for Equality.  

 

This is an example of what the joined-up government I spoke about earlier looks like. 

 

We will continue this work, Madam Speaker 

 

Because every child deserves the chance to thrive, with the right diagnosis, at the right time, followed by the right support. 

And Madam Speaker, I was absolutely determined to go further.  

 

That’s why, on the 1st of December 2024, we established the new Supported Needs and Disability Office at the GHA. 

 

This office is now the single point of contact for individuals and families who need help navigating disability or supported needs services within the GHA. 

 

It operates independently but works in weekly coordination with the Government’s wider SNDO, liaising directly with Education, the Care Agency and other authorities to unblock barriers and improve care for patients and their families.  

 

The office works closely with our Neurodiversity Clinical Lead to implement our ADHD and Autism Spectrum Pathways. 

 

In diabetes, we are training two health professionals (a Registered General Nurse (RGN) and a Paramedic) to become DESMOND trainers.  

 

They will be at the forefront of healthcare education in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes and other related long-term conditions.  

 

This initiative is grounded in principles of patient empowerment and self-management, equipping individuals living with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes with the tools and support necessary to take control of their health and well-being. 

 

Madam Speaker, as I was very pleased to tell the House last week during Question Time, the GHA has now been able to successfully recruit two highly experienced Diabetes Nurse Specialists. 

 

Madam Speaker, I am informed that one of them is due to commence employment next month, and the other is due to start with the GHA in October.  

 

As I told the House last week, this recruitment has been made possible because the GHA is now able to advertise directly on NHS Jobs at no additional cost.  

 

This has significantly expanded our reach and given the GHA the ability to tap into the wider UK NHS nursing pool more effectively, enhancing our ability to attract high-quality candidates in specialist roles. 

 

I am especially grateful to Diabetes Gibraltar for their lobbying and patience in this regard.  

 

We will continue to advertise for the third nurse to complete the complement,       but   remain      confident                                                                                                                                 that      the   service      will significantly improve for diabetes patients as a result of the two new additional nurses.  

And Madam Speaker, this work will continue.  

 

Primary Care will continue to be a priority for me, as it is for everyone in Gib.  

 

Because when Primary Care works well, the whole system works better.

 

Madam Speaker, as I’ve said before, complaints matter. 

 

And that’s why the GHA Complaints Team is based directly at my Ministry. 

 

It means that patient feedback, good or bad, is never far from my desk. 

 

In 2024/25, we received 249 formal complaints, with 237 of these already dealt with and only 12 pending.  

 

Each one was logged, acknowledged, and followed up.  

 

Where change is needed, it happens. 

 

Because we are not here to defend the indefensible.  

 

We are here to improve. 

 

And Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Alex and Elisha, from my office, who manage this workday in, day out, with the rigour and empathy the job requires.  

 

In addition, this is the team that calls up each patient in Calpe House, or any tertiary institution abroad. 

 

 

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

Last year, I stood here and said that mental health services in Gibraltar had come a long way, but that there was still much more to do. 

 

And this year, Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand here again and say we have continued on that journey of improvement.  

 

2024/25 has been a year of real progress across the board.  

 

At Ocean Views, we have seen a deliberate and measured reduction in inpatient activity.  

 

That was not a result of demand falling, it was the result of a conscious change in the model of care. 

 

We are shifting the focus to the community, AWAY from prolonged admissions and toward patient-centred, outpatient support.  

 

That shift is recognised globally as best practice, and I am proud that Gibraltar is aligning itself with that standard. 

 

This move toward community treatment has allowed us to deliver more appropriate, personalised and dignified care, while protecting inpatient beds for those who need them most. 

 

And Madam Speaker, this model only works when our services are joined up.  

 

That is why, this year, we renewed our focus on inter-service collaboration. 

 

Our mental health teams are now working more closely than ever with colleagues in housing, education, the police and employment services.  

 

Because good mental health care, Madam Speaker, does not only happen in clinics.  

 

It happens through holistic support that meets people where they are. 

 

But the most transformative development this year has been the announcement of the relocation of the Community Mental Health Team. 

 

The CMHT will now move from Coaling Island to Sir Joshua Hassan House, and I want to be absolutely clear - this is a huge improvement in Mental Health provision for Gibraltar. 

 

And I know that the Opposition will likely get up and say, “oh but this is just another announcement”.  

 

What I say to that, Madam Speaker, is that I will always act in the best interests of our patients and our service users.  

 

Last year, when I announced the relocation of the CMHT to the Old Gibraltar Chronicle Printworks, this new facility at Joshua Hassan House was not available.  

 

On becoming available, I thought, and continue to think, that the better location for Mental Health service users was Joshua Hassan House.  

 

And indeed, Madam Speaker, I believe that the community agrees with me.  

 

The response to the relocation has been overwhelming.  

 

I therefore agreed that the CMHT should be relocated there and made the announcement accordingly.  

 

This new facility will not just offer a more modern, accessible space, it will embody a new bio-psycho-social model of care. 

 

It will be underpinned by a Single Point of Access system so that patients, families and professionals can reach the right support quickly, safely and directly. 

 

Madam Speaker, this is what transformation looks like.  

 

This is what investment in mental health looks like. 

 

No government in Gibraltar’s history has matched the track record of improvement, investment and reform in mental health services delivered by this GSLP/Liberal administration.  

 

And I’m not just proud of that record. 

 

Madam Speaker, and here I have to say I am proud to stand on the shoulders of every GSLP/Liberal Health Minister who has come before me: 

John Cortes 

Neil Costa 

Paul Balban 

Samantha Sacramento  

And Albert Isola 

 

All of them hugely improved our mental health services from the neglected service we inherited at KGV! 

 

And Madam Speaker, I’m determined to keep building on it. 

 

Madam Speaker, the Second Opinion Appointed Doctor role fulfils a vital statutory function.  

 

A ‘Second Opinion’ is mandated for all patients subject to compulsory treatment in the community under a Community Treatment Order, as well as for all in-patients at Ocean Views who are either unable to consent to treatment or have indicated a refusal to do so. 

 

This process is not only a legal safeguard, but also a valuable clinical checkpoint.  

 

It ensures that treatment plans are subject to external scrutiny and, where necessary, adjusted in the best interests of the patient by an independent and experienced specialist. 

 

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report that the GHA has recently contracted Dr Joshi, a Senior Psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in the NHS, to fulfil this role.  

 

Dr Joshi is currently in Gibraltar undertaking an intensive review of the existing caseload. 

 

He is addressing the backlog of 27 cases requiring a Second Opinion.  

 

Looking forward, I am advised by the GHA that they anticipate approximately one to two new Second Opinion requests every month.  

 

As a result, we intend to retain Dr Joshi’s expertise on a remote basis to support the timely completion of these assessments. 

 

Madam Speaker, moving on, this time last year I announced the first ever Registered Mental Health Training would commence in September 2024.   

 

I am delighted to say the new intake that started in September have embarked upon an exclusive local training programme that offers high quality, local context education which will support the new model of mental health service delivery in Gibraltar. 

 

There are currently 8.5 vacancies for Mental Health nurses in Gibraltar.  

As I explained to the House last week, these vacancies will be maintained for Mental Health nurses that are training into the complement.  

 

In the interim, positions are filled by locums appointed for the relevant periods.  

 

This is ensuring that Gibraltarian students, completing courses in the magnificent University of Gibraltar, have jobs in their fantastic GHA to walk into.  

 

Future. Job. Planning. 

 

So you will see the whole strategy for mental health services, of a new model of care, state of the art physical capacity and outstanding training and education is delivering for the population of Gibraltar and we should be proud of the improvements we have and we are making. 

 

But, of course, Madam Speaker, I recognise there is still more to do.  

 

And Madam Speaker, I am encouraged by the recent observations from the Mental Health Board, which noted the reduction in waiting times and expressed optimism about our new model of care. 

 

The Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society has also welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Board's annual report, acknowledging the improvements made and the clear trend of improvement while highlighting areas for further development.  

 

And I thank them for that. 

 

Madam Speaker, these comments from two independent organisations demonstrate that we are on the right track and we remain committed to addressing the challenges which still exist in some areas 

 

Madam Speaker, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Mental Health Board for their diligent work throughout the year in comprising their very detailed annual inspection report.  

 

So Madam Speaker, when you put all of this together; a new facility, a new model of care, stronger inter-agency working and dedicated mental health nursing education, what you see is a system that is maturing. 

 

A system that is more accessible, more accountable and more attuned to the needs of the people we serve. 

 

And yes, Madam Speaker, there is always more to do. 

 

But we are not waiting for change. 

We are delivering it. 

 

And we will keep going. 

 

 

 

ELDERLY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES (ERS) 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I turn now to Elderly Residential Services. 

 

Madam Speaker, the success of our Elderly Residential Services is reflected in the simple but powerful fact that demand for our services continues to grow year on year. 

 

And that is a success story. 

 

It speaks to the trust placed in our facilities, to the high standard of care we offer, and to the confidence that families have in the work we do. 

 

But it also presents a challenge. 

 

A challenge we must deal with. 

 

As our elderly population continues to grow, we are actively looking at options for the future delivery of services to ensure we are ready to meet the needs of the next generation of 

Gibraltarians. 

 

2024/25 has been a year of considerable and meaningful change, particularly at Mount Alvernia. 

 

And no, Madam Speaker, I do not mean change to the temperature of their water.  

 

I mean, real change. 

 

A new management structure has been implemented, with the appointment of an ERS Director supported by clinical and nonclinical senior leaders. 

 

This new structure provides strategic and operational oversight and ensures that residents receive the best care possible in the  environment in which they live. 

 

Madam Speaker, this time last year I stood here and spoke about Gibraltar’s first National Dementia Strategy. 

 

Today, I am pleased to report that just over 12 months into its implementation, the strategy is already delivering tangible results. 

We have forged an extremely strong partnership between the GHA, my Ministry and the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society. 

 

Our National Dementia Coordinator continues to play a crucial role in uniting services around a patient-centred, compassionate model of care. 

 

Over 200 frontline staff across the public service have now received dementia awareness training, enhancing the quality of daily interactions for people living with dementia. 

 

And, Madam Speaker, this momentum is only building. 

 

We are committed to continuing and expanding this training over the next 12 months, aiming to make Gibraltar a truly Dementia Friendly Community. 

 

Additionally, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say that this year saw the delivery of the first ever Dementia Palliative Care Course for health and social care staff.  

 

This was delivered virtually by St Christopher’s Hospice in London and was funded by GADS.  

 

We have also launched Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) training for ERS staff, delivered by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, helping staff to better understand behaviours as communication and to promote dignity and respect at all times. 

 

Alongside these initiatives, ERS has been working with colleagues from St Bernard’s Hospital to review and enhance the frailty pathway, ensuring that elderly patients receive the right multidisciplinary support at the right time. 

 

And Madam Speaker, alongside all of this, we have continued to focus on sound financial planning and the long-term sustainability of ERS, because financial discipline is an essential part of ensuring that future generations will have access to the care and dignity they deserve. 

 

Madam Speaker, caring for our elderly must be a vocation 

 

And I am proud that in Gibraltar, we continue to set that standard high. 

 

We continue to invest in our elderly, unlike the GSD, whose policy is to CUT in this area, as confirmed on LIVE TELEVISION by the Honourable Ms Ladislaus.  

 

SPONSORED PATIENTS 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

Moving on to Sponsored Patients. 

In 2023/24, Gibraltar spent £16.06 million on sponsored patient care. 

 

In 2024/25, that figure has fallen to £11 million. 

 

And the forecast for 2025/26 is also £11 million 

 

Whilst the Honourable the Leader of the Opposition, seemed to have a go at these figures, what we forgot to say, Madam Speaker, is that this year the sponsored patients department has come in almost entirely on budget!  

 

Madam Speaker, that is a reduction in costs of over £5.5 million. 

 

But let me be absolutely clear: 

 

this reduction is NOT about cutting services. 

 

It is a reflection of improved efficiency, smarter planning and better patient safety. 

 

We continue to work hand in hand with our medical professionals to identify services that can now be safely and confidently managed here at home, in line with our policy on repatriating services and thereby also reducing the need for costly external referrals. 

 

The most recent and striking example of this is the opening of our new Cath Lab, which, I am delighted to say, Madam Speaker, now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

 

What does this actually mean for people in Gibraltar? 

 

It means that if you, or someone you love, has a heart issue, you can now receive a potentially life-saving angiogram or stent procedure here at home, without needing to be flown out. 

 

In clinical terms, we can now move a patient from A&E to the Cath Lab in just 90 seconds. 

 

Madam Speaker, this is world-class emergency cardiac care, delivered locally. 

 

And I am very, very happy to say that lives have already been saved as a direct result of this investment. 

 

This is exactly the kind of infrastructure that changes outcomes. 

 

THIS is where your money is invested. 

 

Madam Speaker, we are also embracing technological innovation to reduce unnecessary travel. 

And Madam Speaker, I think it is worth mentioning that the fact we now have a Cath Lab in Gibraltar has reduced the amount of ambulances having to be sent off to Spain, and the costs incurred as a result.  

 

In 2025/26, one of our core focuses will be the expansion of virtual appointments.  

 

This will allow consultations and follow-up care to be delivered remotely, where clinically appropriate. 

 

Virtual appointments were trialled successfully in Ophthalmology in 2024/25 and the feedback from both patients and clinicians has been positive. 

 

While this solution will not suit every patient, it is certainly a trend we will continue to expand over the coming year. 

 

Alongside this, we have worked to make our operations more cost-effective. 

 

In 2024/25, we successfully negotiated better pricing for air ambulance transfers, achieving savings of approximately £10,000 per flight. 

 

We are also actively working to secure corporate accommodation rates in the UK for those occasions when Calpe House is at full capacity. 

 

Madam Speaker, this is all part of a wider, continuous process to review and monitor external service providers. 

 

Where standards are not met, we will not hesitate to reassign patients to alternative centres, because patient care must always come first. 

 

Madam Speaker, despite these efficiencies, I want to make this absolutely clear: 

 

This is and always will be a patient-led service. 

 

Where clinical need arises to exceed our allocated budget, we will not hesitate to do so, because the health and wellbeing of our patients will always come before accounting targets. 

 

So, Madam Speaker, I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to the fantastic team within the Sponsored Patients Department, and to the Medical Secretaries who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the system function. 

 

AMBULANCE SERVICES & MOBILE HEALTH UNIT:

 

Madam Speaker, 

I now turn to the Gibraltar Ambulance Service. 

 

I am pleased to say, Madam Speaker, that 2024/25 has been a year of continued investment in pre-hospital emergency care. 

 

This is a critical part of the GHA that is often only noticed in moments of crisis, but it is a part of the GHA that underpins the resilience and responsiveness of our entire system. 

 

This year, we added three new ambulances to the fleet: two frontline emergency vehicles and one High Dependency Unit (HDU) ambulance, at a combined cost of over £350,000.  

 

And Madam Speaker, these new vehicles are not simply replacement vehicles. 

 

They are an upgrade in quality and clinical capability.  

 

They are built to modern standards and are a demonstration of our commitment as a government to investing in our GHA.  

 

And Madam Speaker, I am pleased to say that these new vehicles are already making a difference.  

 

Alongside this, we have also relaunched the GHA’s Mobile Health Unit, led by the magnificent Suzanne Romero – colloquially known as Suzanne and her van! 

 

Madam Speaker, this is an initiative I was determined to re-launch from the moment I took on this role and I am proud to have been able to deliver on it. 

 

This unit is designed to take healthcare into the community 

 

To reach people at their estates, particularly those who might otherwise struggle to visit St Bernard’s Hospital or our Primary Care Centre, for whatever reason.  

 

This initiative has proven to be extremely popular with the community.  

 

The Mobile Health Unit offers on-site Well-Person Clinics to residents aged 16 and over.  

 

Visitors to the MHU receive tests for cholesterol, triglyceride levels and diabetes.  

 

The clinics also provide targeted screening advice for specific age groups, including bowel screening information for those over 60, breast screening guidance for women over 40 and cervical screening recommendations for women over 25. 

And Madam Speaker, the feedback we have received so far has been extremely positive. 

 

So I am pleased to say that you will be seeing much more of the Mobile Health Unit in the coming months, as it becomes a more visible and valuable part of our preventative care model, appearing at events across Gibraltar and engaging directly with the public. 

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single member of our Ambulance Service Team, and also to the brilliant team deployed on our Mobile Health Unit, for their continuous good work throughout the year.  

 

CORPORATE SERVICES, DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT REFORM 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I now turn to the corporate backbone of the GHA, our Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and IT teams. 

 

These are the people that keep the system moving behind the scenes.  

 

And without them, Madam Speaker, it simply would not work. 

 

In 2024/25, these teams have delivered a quiet revolution in how the GHA manages its operations, its systems and its people. 

 

Let me start with some of the most significant improvements. 

 

Madam Speaker, we have introduced Service Level Agreements for all Theatre and Cath Lab products, streamlining the supply chain and ensuring that clinicians have access to critical consumables, on time, every time! 

 

We awarded the refurbishment tender for the Chemotherapy Suite, which, as I mentioned earlier, will soon deliver a modernised, patient-centred space to support our expanding oncology service. 

 

We’ve also tackled one of the biggest frustrations in any large system - financial reporting.  

 

Through the successful implementation of Power BI, our budget holders can now access clearer, more accurate financial data, improving accountability and strategic oversight. 

 

We undertook a full Chart of Accounts optimisation, simplifying accounting structures and making them easier to understand and manage. 

 

The registration processes for both local residents and Frontier workers has also been streamlined.  

This, Madam Speaker, has removed unnecessary admin and improved accuracy. 

 

One of the most important milestones this year, however, has been our successful onboarding to NHS Professionals. 

 

This means we can now advertise clinical vacancies across the UK to a national audience, without relying on costly recruitment agencies. 

 

It is thanks to this that we have been able to recruit posts that have previously been extremely difficult to recruit into – and at no cost to the GHA.  

 

Madam Speaker, that has delivered a real and measurable saving and is a remarkable achievement. 

 

Madam Speaker, alongside these initiatives, the GHA has launched a full Administrative Review, which seeks to modernise, streamline and digitise the GHA’s entire administrative framework. 

 

The review focuses on eliminating duplication, better aligning resources to demand, digitising processes and unlocking efficiency savings through smarter workflows and staff training. 

 

It is starting with pilot departments and will scale up in phases. 

 

As part of this review, we are assessing whether it is possible to centralise  our administrative teams, identifying where tasks can be simplified, standardised, and co-located to reduce inefficiency and improve coordination. 

 

This includes the introduction of a large public-facing counter, paired with provisions for a centralised back office and an upgraded call centre at a modest cost.  

 

This initiative will improve the patient experience, reduce confusion, free up critical space within clinical zones and support the consolidation of administrative services in a modern, accessible setting. 

 

Additionally, Madam Speaker, we completed the revamp of the 999 Call Centre. 

 

And we have taken cyber security seriously.  

 

Madam Speaker, this is digital transformation in action. 

 

This is what happens when support teams are empowered to modernise, collaborate and drive innovation 

 

And so I want to place on record my thanks to all the professionals working across Finance, Procurement, HR, IT and Clinical 

Informatics.  

 

In my view, you are all central to the future of the GHA and I thank you for your work throughout the year.  

 

NHS SUPPLY CHAIN 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

I am pleased to update the House on a major project that is currently in progress, one which has the potential to transform how the GHA sources medicines and medical supplies and to deliver multi-million-pound savings to the taxpayer. 

 

We are in the process of finalising a new partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest and most respected NHS Trusts in the United Kingdom.  

 

This partnership will allow Gibraltar to tap into the NHS supply chain, a move that, as Honourable Members will undoubtedly appreciate, would be game changing. 

 

It also answers one of the Honourable the Leader of the Oppositions questions raised in his budget speech on Monday.  

 

I will come to that directly in a moment.  

 

At the moment, the Gibraltar Health Authority is having to purchase its medical products on the open market, whereas the NHS is able to benefit from its economies of scale.  

 

By being able to tap into the NHS supply chain we will be able to tap into the same economies of scale as any NHS trust.  

 

Thereby providing EXACTLY THE SAME product as we currently purchase, at a much reduced price.  

 

And as a result, we are projecting that in some cases we could be saving up to three times the cost of the same goods available on the NHS supply chain. 

 

This is particularly relevant to oncology drugs.  

 

The new agreement will allow the GHA to procure through Guys and St Thomas, using a fixed management charge model instead of the traditional percentage-based uplift.  

 

This provides cost certainty, ensures transparency and eliminates the inefficiencies of fragmented procurement. 

 

We are finalising a few logistical issues around distribution, but these are being actively progressed. 

 

For this reason, we have projected savings in the drugs and pharmaceutical budgets.  

 

Madam Speaker, our aim is to finalise the agreement by the end of July, test systems in September and launch operationally from 1st December this year.  

 

Madam Speaker, this will SAVE the Gibraltarian taxpayer millions. 

 

This is exactly the kind of reform we must pursue if we are serious about the quality, efficiency and sustainability of our health service. 

 

MARTHA’S LAW 

 

Madam Speaker, before I begin to conclude, I would like to speak briefly about a new policy I am very excited to shortly introduce at the GHA. 

 

A question which I am often asked is whether I enjoy politics or whether I feel I made the right choice in moving from a legal career into this House. 

 

And the truth is, politics can be difficult.  

 

It can be bruising.  

 

But if there is one reason why I can say it has been worthwhile, it is to be able to implement policies such as this. 

 

Madam Speaker, as I told the House last week, we are working to implement Martha’s Law in Gibraltar. 

 

I very much hope to introduce this formally by the end of this year.  

 

This policy was introduced in the United Kingdom following the tragic death of Martha Mills, a child who died from sepsis.  

 

Her parents recognised that something was seriously wrong.  

 

They cried out for help.  

 

But their concerns were not acted upon and the consequences were devastating. 

 

Anyone who has sat at the edge of a hospital bed, or indeed at the foot of an incubator, as I have, knows the powerlessness that can take hold.  

 

You know your loved one.  

 

You see them changing.  

 

You feel that something isn’t right and yet too often, you don’t know what to do or who to turn to. 

 

That is what Martha’s Law seeks to change. 

 

Once implemented in our GHA, Martha’s Law will empower hospital inpatients and their families to request an urgent clinical review if they believe their, or their loved one’s condition is deteriorating.  

 

It will trigger a rapid escalation protocol that ensures a Critical Care clinician reviews the case. 

 

And if something has been missed, such as the early signs of sepsis, then that escalation could save a life. 

 

This is about giving patients and families a voice.  

 

It’s about listening.  

 

This change will create the space in which relatives concerned about a patient’s condition will be able to seek to have another CCU clinician review the case, eliminating the inherent difficulty many of us might experience when the opinion of a medical professional ‘feels’ wrong. 

 

So Madam Speaker, is politics worth it? 

 

If you can deliver policy change like this, then my answer is simple.  

 

ABSOLUTELY, YES! 

 

 

So, Madam Speaker, 

 

This has been a landmark year for the Gibraltar Health Authority. 

 

A year where we’ve dared to change a lot of what needed changing.  

 

And that change will continue. 

 

That change WILL NOT PAUSE.  

 

We have many new projects in the pipeline to continue the growth to improve the basic functions of the GHA. 

 

But here is where it is important to state that it is not just about projects.  

 

I will make it my mission in the next six months to walk every ward of the hospital, and speak to every member of staff, as I have already done, to ensure that I hear the issues on the ground. 

 

Because the hospital is a partnership between management and staff to ensure the patients gets the best outcome. 

 

As I have said in a lot of the meetings I have had, everything we do MUST be for the benefit of the patient.  

 

But, Madam Speaker, a happy workforce ensures that every patient is well looked after. 

 

Madam Speaker, this has been a year where we’ve delivered record-breaking results across acute, surgical and primary care. 

 

A year where we have chosen action over excuses and outcomes over optics. 

 

YES, the cost has been high. 

 

And YES, the financial outturn has exceeded our original allocation.

 

Although we have started the process this year of closing the gap.  

 

The way ahead is to ALWAYS look for improved efficiency in these areas. 

 

But Madam Speaker, if this House is actually committed to quality healthcare, to patient dignity, to timely access and long-term resilience, then we must also accept the reality of what it takes to deliver that standard in 2025. 

 

We are spending more because we are doing more. 

 

Because we are seeing more patients. 

 

Because we are training more staff. 

 

We are mapping our vacancies to returning Gibraltarian students. 

 

Because we are investing in the kind of infrastructure and services that future-proofs our care model. 

 

And, Madam Speaker, this is not just about what we’ve done, it’s about how we’ve done it. 

 

We have empowered clinical teams to lead reform. 

 

We have invested in digital transformation that will bring longterm savings and accountability. 

 

We have rebuilt trust in primary care. 

 

We have CUT waiting times. 

 

We have opened up access. 

 

We have ensured that PCC appointments are available every day for much longer. 

 

We have supported our elderly and expanded our mental health services with new models of care and new facilities. 

 

And we have introduced transparency and internal oversight mechanisms to ensure we are spending public money with purpose. 

 

We have a lot more work to do and a lot more trust to rebuild – but Madam Speaker, we are on it. 

 

Madam Speaker, when I asked for the Health portfolio, it was not because it was easy.  

 

It was because I cared. 

 

Deeply. 

 

And everything I have done, every initiative I have pushed, every meeting I have chaired, every reform I have defended, has been with the interests of patients in mind. 

 

Their access. 

 

Their safety. 

 

Their outcomes. 

 

Their lives. 

 

Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to once again place on record my sincere thanks to every single member of staff across the GHA and ERS.  

 

From our consultants to our nurses, our ambulance crews to our porters, our administrative teams, and everyone else – this could not be possible without you.  

 

You work through the night, through weekends, through public holidays, often without recognition, and you do so because you believe in our health service. 

 

So on behalf of the Government, and indeed on behalf of the people of Gibraltar, you have our thanks. 

 

So yes, Madam Speaker, there is more to do.  

 

Of course there is. 

 

But what we have done this year has laid the foundation for a stronger, fairer, more responsive GHA. 

 

And I will continue to drive that work forward, with the same urgency, the same “fire in the belly”, the same transparency and the same commitment to excellence that this House and this community deserve. 

 

Because Madam Speaker, when healthcare works, everything else follows. 

 

 

Madam Speaker, 

 

Once again, this has been a long speech. 

 

Because there’s a lot to account for. 

 

Because there’s a lot being done. 

 

And because I am not here to deliver soundbites, I am here to deliver results. 

 

So, Madam Speaker, before I finish, and I promise I am now almost done, I need to thank the people who make that possible. 

 

To my amazing Ministry team - Annie, Aaron, Adrianna, and Edwina, thank you! 

 

Thank you for the very long hours and extraordinary hard work! 

 

I also want to thank the Parliament Team, both at No.6 and in this House. 

 

Thank you for support throughout the year  

 

Now, Madam Speaker, I want to say this clearly.  

 

It is easy to criticise when you’ve never had to lead. 

 

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and throw stones when you’ve never had to carry the weight of responsibility. 

 

And the truth is, the Opposition have a lot to say, but very little to show for it. 

 

They talk about problems. We deal with them. 

 

They ask questions. We get the answers and then we fix what needs fixing. 

 

Because this is not about scoring political points. 

 

It’s about serving people. 

 

And Madam Speaker, I take that responsibility seriously. 

 

And no, it hasn’t been perfect. 

 

Yes, there are still things to improve. 

 

And I’ll be the first to say so. 

 

But we are not where we were. 

 

We are moving. 

 

And we are moving in the right direction. 

 

So Madam Speaker, I will end where I began: 

 

With sleeves rolled up. 

 

With eyes wide open. 

 

And with fire in my belly. 

 

Because I care. 

 

And I will say this to all the girls out there.  

 

Let them portray you as crazy if you are passionate.  

 

Let them portray you as excitable if you are fighting for your cause.  

 

But show them what crazy, excitable people are capable of. 

 

And I will keep pushing, until the system works better, until services are stronger and until every single person in this community feels the difference. 

 

Thank you, Madam Speaker. 

 

I commend the Bill to the House.