The average cost of a standard GP appointment currently sits at just under £34 – cheaper than it was in August 2023.
New data released by the Government shows how the cost of a GP appointment has changed in the past few years – and how a number of surgeries charge less to the patient now than they did two years ago.
The figures show how the prices advertised on the Government website peaked in April 2024 – but how much patients are paying varies widely by surgery.
The cheapest appointment is now free, and the most expensive is currently £45. The average cost of a standard GP appointment is £33.86 at the moment.
Many surgeries have not changed prices much over the last few years. Seven David Place, Castle Quay Medical Practice, Cleveland Clinic, Clifden Surgery, First Medical, Health Plus, Indigo Medical, Island Medical Centre, Lido Medical Practice, and Route du Fort Surgery are all within £3 of their own 2023 prices.
Just one practice raised their prices by £6 compared to 2023, and others lowered them significantly – Como Villa Surgery lowered its appointment cost from £25 to £15 in April 2024, and hasn’t raised it since.
The most expensive an appointment has ever been was in April 2024, when one surgery briefly advertised a £51 appointment.
But the figures don’t show how other costs at GP surgeries have evolved – for example, home visits from a doctor can cost from £85 (St Martin Surgery) to £151 (Health Plus).
Subsidies
Currently, the Government pays £50.28 towards each appointment.
The data shows that number of surgeries increased their prices in April 2024 – shortly before a new subsidy was introduced. The average price of appointments surged to £39.71 that month, before dropping again after the subsidy was raised.
People who have been in Jersey less than six months have to pay a higher fee, as they pay for the full cost of the appointment. Once they have been working in the island for six months and received their health card, the government subsidy brings down the price of an appointment.
Without the subsidy, many surgeries charge “visitor” or “private” pricing. Prices advertised are in the range of £85 to £100, but not all surgeries accept visitors and they don’t all advertise these prices online.
Islanders who receive income support or help with their pension can get health benefits that will cover most of their appointments.
Free appointments
Windsor Medical introduced free appointments for their patients in April, stressing that they wanted to make healthcare “accessible to everyone in Jersey – regardless of income”.
“No one should have to put their health at risk because they can’t afford to see a doctor,” the surgery said.
Windsor Medical has since reintroduced charges for home visits.