UK and island in talks on new reciprocal health agreement

But it must be agreed by mid-September or the chance could be lost.

Currently islanders travelling to the UK have to pay for medical care they may need in the country. Under the proposals from the Policy & Resources Committee, all islanders will be able to benefit when visiting the UK.

UK visitors will also be able to access healthcare when visiting the Bailiwick. The States of Alderney and Sark Chief Pleas will be asked to consider the same policy letter, with appropriately tailored propositions, in July.

The RHA will need to be agreed by mid-September, so the DHSC can submit regulations for UK parliamentary approval by the start of December. It needs to be placed before parliament as part of new post-Brexit arrangements. If the Bailiwick does not meet the deadline for a response, it is likely to be some years until another opportunity arises.

Edward Argar MP, Minister of State for Health, at the Department of Health & Social Care, said the UK was delighted to have agreed a proposed reciprocal healthcare arrangement with the Bailiwick.

‘Residents across the UK and Guernsey stand to benefit as they’ll be able to access emergency and necessary healthcare services when visiting either territory free of charge,' he said.

P&R president Deputy Peter Ferbrache said the UK had indicated it would be open to negotiating a new RHA with Guernsey back in 2018.

However, due to work required in the lead up to Brexit, alongside the pandemic, discussions were interrupted.

‘We know that a new RHA has been an area of interest in Guernsey for some years, both politically and within the community, due to the social and economic links between the Bailiwick and the UK,' Deputy Ferbrache said.

'The new RHA will bring great benefits to residents of both the Bailiwick and the UK, making travel easier in both directions for family, business and leisure purposes.’

In 2019 there were 187,456 UK visitors to Guernsey and 435 visits to the Guernsey emergency department by UK visitors. They were charged a total of £292,000.

While some of the RHA treatment would be provided by the States, a reasonable proportion would be delivered by the private sector, so the costs normally chargeable by private providers would need to be covered by the States.

Initial contact has been made with private sector providers to inform them of the negotiations. Once estimated costs are clearer, further discussions will be required about any implications for the 2023 budget.

Currently islanders visiting the UK are charged at 150% of the NHS charging tariff in the UK

While the principles of the new RHA have been agreed, discussions about the proposed text are still going on with the UK Government. It is intended that it will be published in due course.

An exact proposed start date has not yet been announced.

The plans are set to be debated by the States in July.