Doctor’s visit in Alderney to cost more in new year
PEOPLE living in Alderney will have to pay more to see a doctor from 1 January.
The changes were announced in an update from the Alderney Care Board, the political forum which is overseeing health and care provision in Alderney following the acquisition of the Island Medical Centre in September.
Fees will increase to reflect rising costs.
A GP appointment will increase from £50 to £55, with a nurse consultation rising from £32 to £35.
This is broadly comparable to the charges of £56.70 and £32.20 in Guernsey.
The care board said changes have already been made to increase the availability of care for Alderney residents, with an increase in the number of appointments available, pre-bookable sessions at the Island Medical Centre and a new ambulance contract taking effect in January.
Alderney Care Board chairman Mark Helyar said significant progress has been made in recent months.
‘Increasing the resilience and capacity of the Island Medical Centre, with the support of Queens Road Medical Practice, and supporting efforts to secure a new contract for a professional ambulance service are two success stories, but we have much more work to do to ensure Alderney benefits from a health and care model that is sustainable in the long term,’ he said.
‘The States of Guernsey and States of Alderney will continue working in partnership with further developments planned for 2023.’
Alderney’s Policy & Finance chairman and Alderney Care Board member Ian Carter said that while providing health care to 2,000 people was a challenge, the scale also provided the opportunity to redraw how and where care was delivered to improve experiences for islanders.
‘We are having active discussions about possible further changes which could be made, which will inform a programme of work for 2023,' he said.
