New prescription on the way for vulnerable Islanders

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Jersey is having a major check up to see which Islanders are the most vulnerable and in need of free healthcare.

The island's senior GP, Dr Nigel Minihane, says they are working with other healthcare professionals and the States to totally overhaul the system, and find out exactly how many Islanders are struggling to pay for their doctors' appointments.

His comments follow the news that the Co-op is offering free appointments for the under-fives at its three new surgeries, as is Dr Fred Rud who became the first private GP to do so when he set up Atlantic Surgery. The Co-op is also providing reduced charges for other patients.

But Dr Nigel Minihane says more than 40% of the patients at his surgery are currently getting their appointments free of charge, something he thinks is being echoed at practices around the Island, and that those with young children may not be the most in need.

He said: "Just because they are under 5, it doesn’t make them vulnerable, We’re trying to identify the vulnerable, it could be the under 5, it could be someone who’s elderly.

"We'll be defining what it will mean for the economy and looking at how the money flows through the system – if we are looking after more people in the community, there needs to be less barriers. For example, if it’s free to go to the hospital if you have diabetes, then why would they go to their GPs. We're looking at a whole change of the system."

The Co-op says it's responding to the needs of its members and is charging £30 for a standard consultation, lower prices for children aged five to 18 and free visits for children under five. 

The Society's Chief Executive Colin Macleod said: "I am delighted to be able to offer our members this new service. Our members have been telling us that they would like their healthcare to be more affordable, transparent and easily accessible.

"The Society exists for the benefit of its members. We have been listening to our members, and it has become increasingly clear that the Society should use its scale and experience to offer a new, more affordable, medical care service. This is the right thing to do for our members."

The Society has bought two established GP practices and is employing four doctors, a practice nurse and eight existing surgery staff and plans to take on more staff if there is a big demand for the service. Any profits will be shared out to members as dividends.

Jersey Consumer Council Chairman Advocate Rose Colley said: "The Consumer Council welcome the new Co-operative ‘medical’ initiative – we are delighted that feedback from our Primary Health Care Survey and Focus Groups have been pivotal in much of the Co-operative’s decision making. Naturally we hope that the patients enjoy and benefit from the reduced GP consultation prices and that the parents of the under 5s are reassured by the free consultations.  We look forward to the possibility of longer opening times and a wider range of primary health care services being on offer. 

"We are extremely pleased to note that their price lists will be on display and will be large enough to be clearly visible. Additionally, we understand that the GPs will be actively asking for patient feedback and that the practice will also be running patient groups to see if  the new Co-operative medical services are serving their patients well and how they may do better."