Cancer patients’ emergency care charge U-turn

All cancer patients who have been charged for Emergency

Department care since May will be refunded.

But Health & Social Care president Al Brouard has warned there will be tough financial decisions ahead for his committee.

Nikita Le Prevost’s petition received nearly 5,000 signatures after she launched it just a week ago to get free care for cancer patients at the ED reinstated.

‘I’m so happy, I only just found out and the first thing I did was ring my dad because I was just so amazed that they listened to the petition,’ said the 20-year-old, whose mum died from cancer three years ago.

‘It’s so great that the whole community came together to share their stories and experiences.

‘We have to keep it going now, it shouldn’t be levelled down for everyone to be treated equally, and it isn’t a patient’s choice to have cancer.’

The initial change in policy came in May, as previously islanders with cancer did not pay for out-of-hours ED treatment, while other patients of chronic or life-limiting illnesses did.

HSC had argued the change made healthcare more equitable.

Yesterday it stated that the latest decision has been made on an interim basis and further reviews and financial decisions would need to be made.

In the meantime, all cancer patients who attended the Emergency Department for treatments relating to their illness since May will be refunded.

Deputy Brouard said feedback from the Bailiwick was considered, but the committee’s focus was on creating health equity for all.

‘We have listened to the community and we can see the strength of feeling that exists about this issue,’ he said.

‘As such we have responded. We don’t want to “level down” but we also don’t have a bottomless pit of money, and we originally made a decision that we felt was in the interests of treated patients fairly.’

Deputy Brouard added that the committee will be taking time to work through the issues to come up with the money to make the cost of care in the ED fairer for the whole community.

‘It is an inescapable truth, however, that the cost of doing so will likely mean we have to make a difficult decision elsewhere,’ he said.

‘We cannot afford to have it all and tough decisions lie ahead given the island’s financial challenges and the structure of our health system which is neither completely free at the point of delivery, like the NHS, or fully private.’

n Refunds for ED charges can be arranged by emailing EDInvoices@gov.gg.