Mask exemption applicants “disadvantaged” by cost

Friday 07 August 2020

A local GP has said that islanders requiring an exemption from wearing a face mask at the island’s ports are being unfairly disadvantaged because they must first pay for proof of their disability or condition.

Ports of Jersey announced the launch of the ‘Hidden Disability’ face covering exemption card last week to make the journey “less stressful” for the passengers who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons.

Under the scheme, islanders travelling through the harbour and airport – where the coverings are compulsory – must provide a valid medical certificate.

However, in order to obtain one, they must first visit a GP – something that comes at a cost, putting islanders with disabilities and certain medical conditions at a disadvantage.

Pictured: Dr Mark Wilbourn is a GP at Windsor Medical Practice.

“They have created a system where you have to ask your GP for a certificate, which means people who need a certificate will be charged by their GP for something that States should have come up with, which seems a bit unfair,” Dr Mark Wilbourn of Windsor Medical Practice said.

He noted that costs have recently risen as an agreement that saw 100 GPs employed directly by the government had recently come to an end.

Under the scheme, consultations were fixed at £20 for adults and £10 for children aged five to 17, with children under five free.

But now costs have risen back to normal levels, as GPs have returned back to their practices.

“Now patients are going to be disadvantaged,” Dr Wilbourn noted.

Pictured: Dr Wilbourn said it seemed "unfair" that people with disabilities were charged for medical certificates.

He said that this and other elements of the scheme could have been discussed and tightened up if there had been consultation with GPs in advance, noting that he had only learned about it while reading Express.

 “…There kind of needed to be discussions with GPs before coming up with this masterplan,” he said, explaining that a template could have been produced to help medical professionals extract the right data from their system.

“It would have been really easy if we had a bit notice.”

He also raised questions over how this medical certificate data would be handled by the ports and airlines.

However, a Ports of Jersey spokesperson confirmed that they would not be keeping copies of the medical certificates and will “merely” ask that passengers show medical proof when requesting an exemption card.

“They must carry the medical proof throughout their journey as the airline may also wish to see the proof prior to boarding as could the airport at their final destination,” a spokesperson explained. “Ports of Jersey does not retain the proof or take a note of any personal details.”

Despite concerns about the expense to those requesting a face mask exemption, Ports said it felt that it was important to ask for medical certificates to avoid any abuse and to comply with airline policies.

“The reason why airlines and ports require some form of medical proof of this is so as to avoid people from abusing this policy, “ the Ports of Jersey spokesperson explained. “Airline policies will often require medical proof of a passenger’s disability when requesting special assistance.

They added that so far the “feedback and response we have received from the public as a result of introducing this initiative has been very positive and welcomed by many.”