Bid to re-establish reciprocal health agreement with the UK

Saturday 22 June 2019

A fresh attempt is being made to get a reciprocal health agreement with the UK back in place.

Deputies Rob Prow and Jennifer Merrett want the States to start investigating ways to set up a RHA, which Guernsey has not had for a decade.

"This amendment asks the States to agree that, subject to negotiating suitable terms and conditions with Her Majesty's Government, Guernsey residents should enjoy rights to medical treatment whilst in the UK on a reciprocal basis under a Reciprocal Health Agreement," the amendment to the P&R Plan states.

The end of the reciprocal health agreement in March 2009 meant that Guernsey residents were no longer able to access the NHS free of charge when in the UK.

If successful, Policy & Resources will be tasked with working alongside Employment & Social Security to "investigate opportunities to enter into and, if possible, negotiate a renewed RHA with HMG, similar to that in place with the Isle of Man and Jersey."

"Over eight years ago in April 2011, the other Crown Dependencies signed Reciprocal Health Agreements with HMG which provided an entitlement to specified free health services to visitors to all the parties to the individual agreements. However Guernsey did not sign such an agreement.

"This has been of concern to many islanders, particularly the lower paid, those who are retired and the elderly, those with pre-existing medical conditions and the local hospitality and tourism sector who point out that visitors from the UK are disadvantaged, in comparison to those staying in the other Crown Dependencies."