Why such a big difference in blood test prices?
I BELONG to the Queen’s Road Medical Group and I am intrigued as to why when I, and all their other patients, attend the Queen’s Road surgery for a blood test, it costs us over double the price of any other group of practitioners’ surgeries on the island? Just to compare and for information to all the people in Guernsey how the prices differ, I phoned each group and asked them for their prices on the following: blood tests, consultations and repeat prescriptions. Charges for a consultation at Queen’s Road and Le Longfrie are priced at £49.90. Blood tests are £28.20.
Cobo, High Street, Rohais and St Martin’s: consultations are £49.50 and blood tests £12. L’Aumone, St Sampson`s and Town: consultations are £51 and blood tests £14.
Each group of surgeries charges different prices and I was wondering who makes the call when a price is put in place for each practice?
I would have thought there may have been a regulator for such things, but it appears not as my surgery would not be able to charge over double the others for a blood test, and the St Sampson’s, L’Aumone and Town group charge £1-plus more for a consultation.
The only regularity in prices for all practices are the repeat prescriptions – they all stand at the same price at present, which is £4.
I did make an enquiry to one of the doctors at the practice I attend as to why their prices were so high compared to others and his reply was ‘the doctors do not make/fix the pricing’. So my question is, who does?
GEOFF ALLEN,
Inglenook,
Rouge Rue,
St Peter Port, GY1 1ZE.
Editor’s footnote: A spokesman for Health & Social Care replies:
The reason why there are different prices is that in 2015, the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities advised the States, following a review of the primary health care market, that the past practice of setting fees with GP practices on a group basis was not compatible with the provisions of the Competition Law and should no longer take place.
It is a free market and the individual can change practice if they are not happy with the prices being charged.
The States of Guernsey provides all of the diagnostic testing such as blood tests, diagnosis of infectious diseases and the diagnosis of cancer and related conditions free of charge for everyone in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. None of the costs being passed on to patients by GP practices are States costs.