Agreement raises total cost of care
The latest round of foot-dragging over the re-introduction of a reciprocal health agreement with the UK has, in a roundabout way, focused attention on how much money islanders pay for their medical treatment.
The latest round of foot-dragging over the re-introduction of a reciprocal health agreement with the UK has, in a roundabout way, focused attention on how much money islanders pay for their medical treatment.
The reason is HSSD's suggestion that GPs, medical specialists and St John Ambulance might all want compensating for loss of earnings should non-local patients slip through their grasp if the agreement is reinstated.
What isn't clear is whether that is an accurate reflection of the private wing of health care's attitude towards generating cash or the Health department flying a kite to deter the States from replacing the RHA.
Nevertheless, it is a reminder that Guernsey has a substantial health care industry here and its practitioners have a direct financial interest in it.
While much is made about whether 'the health service' is adequately funded – the £107m. HSSD will this year receive – islanders pay significantly more than that.
According to some estimates, the total (taxpayer and individual) spend is around £300m a year, which includes visits to the doctor at nearly £50 a time and the compulsory premiums paid to cover specialist care.
Does that represent value for money? What could be provided with that same amount if used in a different way?
Salaried NHS doctors earn between £54,000 and £81,000 while consultants are on a basic of £74,500 to £100,446 (as at April 2010 according to NHS Careers). No similar figures are published here because GPs and consultants are in private practice. But based on the MSG contract figure, the respective gross earnings are likely to be into the order of £200,000 to £350,000 per annum.
No criticism is implied in that because these are imprecise figures but it is a safe bet that earnings here are considerably higher than in the UK.
This matters because when tax and spend politicians complain about HSSD being underfunded, they should demand the fuller picture.
As taxpayers, islanders contribute about £2,500 a head a year to HSSD but a further £4,500 in non-States care.
A look at what that combined £7,000 spend could achieve if used differently is long overdue.
