Islanders are set to benefit from a new subsidy on appointments with nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and health care assistants, and for telephone consultations with GPs. 

The new £10 government subsidy – which does not apply to face-to-face doctor appointments – came into force from 1 July 2025.

It follows previous reductions in the cost of face-to-face GP appointments – which were reduced by £20 in 2023, with a further £10 subsidy announced by the Government in May 2024.

Dr Gordon Callander from the Primary Care Body said that, while healthcare costs continue to rise, GP surgeries are doing “all they can to minimise the impact on patients”.

He said: “Many practices now offer consultations with other healthcare professionals who can often meet patients’ needs.

“It is great that the important work of practice nurses, healthcare assistants, paramedics and pharmacists is recognised by Employment, Social Security and Housing ​to allow the evolution of services offered to patients.”

Dr Callander noted that remote consultations by phone or video have “proved invaluable to a number of patients”.

“We are grateful to government for recognising and encouraging new ways of working which reflect modern general practice,” he added.​

Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham said the new reduction will extend financial relief to patients who access a broader range of primary care professionals than just face-to-face GP appointments.

“I’m grateful to general practice for working with us to deliver this important expansion,” she added.

“Together, we are working to strengthen a high-quality, accessible, and flexible primary care system for all islanders.”

The new subsidy does not apply to out-of-hours services provided by on-call doctors, or to patients in the Health Access Scheme who pay fixed reduced fees for GP services.

In April, Windsor Medical Clinic became the first GP practice in Jersey to offer completely free face-to-face doctor consultations for all existing patients, and up to 1,000 new patients.

Express understands that no further surgeries have yet to follow suit.