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Changes to the way primary care health services are delivered in Alderney mean the cost of seeing a doctor or nurse for a consultation has to go up in the new year, according to the States of Guernsey.
Concerns over Primary Care services in the smaller island almost reached crisis point in May this year when the Island Medical Centre announced it was closing.
Guernsey's Queen's Road Medical Practice stepped in to offer immediate support at the time, delaying the closure of Alderney's only GP practice by a month.
By October of this year a deal to nationalise Alderney's doctors' surgery had been agreed between both islands' States.
Doctors from Queens Road are continuing to provide support while longer term plans are finalised.
Pictured: Queen's Road Medical Practice.
All of the work is being overseen by the Alderney Care Board which has representatives from both islands' States on it. It has this week said that as work to preserve the provision of care is ongoing it is seen as essential that "funding arrangements are fair and transparent" and that "steps will be taken where appropriate to reduce the revenue pressure on Alderney’s government".
With that in mind, it was yesterday announced that fees at the IMC will increase from 1 January 2023 to reflect rising costs.
Ian Carter, Chairman of the States of Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee and Member of the Alderney Care Board, said
"While providing health and care to 2,000 people is a challenge, the scale also provides real opportunity to bring separate providers together and redraw how and where care is delivered to improve experiences for islanders and ultimately make the whole system more sustainable and more resilient.
"We are having active discussions about possible further changes which could be made, which will inform a programme of work for 2023."
Pictured: Ian Carter, Chairman of Alderney's Policy and Finance Committee.
From the new year onwards an appointment to see a doctor on the day will rise from £50 to £55 while a consultation with a nurse will rise from £32 to £35.
This is the first fee increase in several years and the Alderney Care Board said "costs rises for the community are being kept to a minimum".
Changes have already been made to increase the availability of care for Alderney residents with the number of appointments available at the IMC being increased and all sessions are now bookable in advance, providing increased convenience for patients.
A new ambulance contract for the island will take effect in January.
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