The difference in the size of the States grant paid to doctors in Guernsey and Jersey has been given as a reason why a Jersey clinic can now offer appointments for free, while that is unlikely to happen in Guernsey.
Last week, the Windsor Medical Clinic in St Helier became the first in the Channel Islands to permanently offer free doctor appointments.
The clinic said it wanted to stop patients’ finances from being a barrier to good healthcare, and that consultations with its GPs will be free for all existing patients, and for up to 1,000 new patients on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dr Jane Holloran, who recently joined the team, told Express that the arrangement will be permanent.
She said that it is possible for the clinic to balance its books, while still making appointments free-of-charge and that, by doing so, the clinic hoped to improve early access to care and help prevent serious health problems from developing.
“As a GP, I’ve seen people delay coming to see me because of financial reasons,” Dr Holloran told Express. “Their condition worsens, and had they come sooner, the outcome would have been better.”
“No one should have to put their health at risk because they can’t afford to see a doctor,” she continued. “We want a service that’s accessible to all.”
GP practices in Jersey are privately owned, as they are in Guernsey, and they also receive a States subsidy – as they do here.
However in Jersey the subsidy is around £50 while in Guernsey it is £12.
Dr Holloran said that Windsor Medical Clinic would be able to sustain itself through that Government funding alone – and would be able to balance the books without charging patients directly.
The model has been costed to ensure doctors are still paid fairly while the service remains free for patients, she said.
“Obviously as a business, we’ve looked at our model, and we feel that actually it’s affordable based on what we get from the government,” Dr Holloran told Express.
“There was a small charge which patients were paying [previously], but, having looked at it, we feel that it’s going to be sustainable and we’ll still be able to offer an excellent service – and it will be free to our patients, which means they won’t be avoiding coming to see us… It’s going to be positive for our patients and Jersey as a whole.”
She also said they’ve taken on more staff to cope with the expected increase in demand for their services.
The Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, published in 2022, found that 41% of adults respondents had skipped GP appointments because of cost.
A similar report in Guernsey found people do the same here.
In April 2020, HSC said it wanted to accelerate plans to make doctor’s appointments more affordable as covid took a hold on the Bailiwick. That led to a reduction in fees for childrens’ appointments but not for adults.
In May 2024, HSC appeared before a Scrutiny panel where its political representatives answered questions on a number of topics including the £12 grant paid to GP practices.
HSC President said that changing it – with a view to potentially increasing it – would need the backing of the States, and would need to be funded by changes to HSC’s finances elsewhere.
Express approached HSC to comment on the Jersey Windsor clinic offering appointments for free, but it said that it is a topic for Guernsey’s GP practices to comment on, not the political committee.
Guernsey has three independent medical practices that offer General Practice services. They are Island Health, Queen’s Road Medical Practice, and Healthcare Group.
Express approached all three last week but only Island Health had replied by the time of publication.
“We note with interest the recent article on a Jersey GP clinic becoming the first to scrap patient fees,” acknowledged Dr Mike Long, the Chairman of Island Health.
“While this is a significant development for healthcare accessibility in Jersey, the situation in Guernsey is quite different,” he said.
Dr Long explained that one of the key differences between doctor’s appointment costs in Jersey and Guernsey is the level of government support they receive.
“This stark contrast means that practices in Guernsey receive far less financial assistance to subsidise the cost of care,” he said. “Without a substantial increase in government funding, offering free GP appointments in Guernsey would be unsustainable for most Practices.”
As well as warning against drawing comparisons between doctor appointment fees in Guernsey and Jersey, Dr Long said it is also wrong to compare the islands with the UK.
“Additionally, while the principle of free-at-the-point-of-use healthcare is a cornerstone of the NHS, the system is facing severe strain. Rising demand, workforce shortages, and financial pressures have left NHS services struggling to meet patient needs. This raises important questions about whether completely free GP access is a viable long-term model without significant investment and reform.
“Ensuring that all patients can access high-quality primary care is essential. However, any move towards reducing patient fees must be supported by a realistic funding model that enables Practices to continue providing care without compromising quality or sustainability.”
Dr Long said that Island Health would “welcome further discussions on how Guernsey can enhance healthcare accessibility while maintaining a system that works for both patients and providers”.
Island Health currently charges £72 for an adult patient to see a GP during the day time at one of its surgeries. Queens Road Medical Practice charges £79, reduced to £70.50 if paid for at the time of the appointment, and Healthcare Group charges £77, reduced to £69 if it is paid for at the time of the appointment.
The prices vary for at home, telephone, or out of hours consultations.
All three practices charge £25 for a child’s appointment.
That support is provided by Employment and Social Security.
Anyone who feels they may be eligible for the financial support with their medical costs can contact Income Support on 222508, or by email at IncomeSupport@gov.gg.