Cost of GP appointments to drop by £10 next week

Friday 17 May 2024

The cost of a GP appointment will be £10 cheaper next week in a Government bid to reduce cost barriers and support islanders with living healthier lives.

The latest reduction, which applies to all face-to-face appointments, surgery consultations and home visits, means that islanders will receive an overall subsidy of £50.28 towards their appointments.

The Common Strategic Policy, published last month, identified reducing the cost of GP fees as one of the Government's key priorities.

The increase in the subsidy will be funded from the Health Insurance Fund and will come into effect from Monday.

The reduction will not apply to non-GP practitioners, remote consultations and out-of-hour services.

Pictured: Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham.

Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham said: "The new Government committed to reducing the cost of seeing a GP and I am pleased that we reached this latest agreement with the Primary Care Body to deliver this priority.

"I recognise that many people continue to face cost-of-living challenges.

"Everyone should be able to access GP care, and by subsidising fees further my aim is to reduce cost barriers for patients where possible and to support them with living healthier lives."

Gordon Callander from the Primary Care Body, which represents GPs in Jersey, said: "We welcome any Government initiative that reduces costs to patients to ease any financial barriers especially to those most in need."