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Healthcare costs for children in Guernsey will be significantly cut from September next year, as part of newly approved States plans, which will see higher income households stop receiving family allowance.
In a year's time, the cost of a child's GP appointment will drop to £25, the charge for a visit to a nurse will be £15 and an A&E visit will be cut to £25.
In addition, young people up to the age of 18 will be entitled to a free dental check up each year, including fluoride varnish treatment.
More money will also go into education, with a supervised toothbrushing programme for pre-school children, more dental health education for primary and secondary school pupils, and extra cultural enrichment activities for young people.
All in all, the subsidies and investments will cost the States in the region of £2m per year, although it is hoped this will be fully funded by approved changes to the family allowance system.
Pictured: The price of GP appointments for children will be subsidised, as part of the changes.
As of September 2021, families with a gross household income of £120,000 or more won't be able to claim allowance, with an expected annual government saving of £1.8m.
Family allowance will continue for households with a lower income, but it will stop on the date of the young person's 18th birthday.
The plans were put forward jointly by Employment & Social Security, Health & Social Care and Education, Sport & Culture.
"These proposals are an important step towards addressing the in-work poverty experienced by many families with children," a spokesperson for the committees said. "They contribute towards our Children and Young People's Plan aims of creating a Bailiwick in which every child and teenager is protected, cared for and has every opportunity to flourish."
The propositions were approved by the vast majority of deputies, with the exception of three members of Policy & Resources; Deputies Gavin St Pier, Lyndon Trott and Al Brouard.
Pictured: Deputies Gavin St Pier, Lyndon Trott and Al Brouard were the only States Members to vote against the proposals.
P&R had suggested it wouldn't be supporting the plans ahead of debate, when the committee released a letter of comment stating that the policy letter was using "blunt instruments" to fund the subsidy costs.
However, some deputies have seen the proposals as a "sign of a new direction" in addressing in-work poverty.
Deputy Chris Green - who has attempted to tackle poverty within the States before - supported the policy letter, but would like to see it taken further in the future.
"These proposals don't really go far enough because it is not just children who face inequalities of accessing healthcare; for example, those with chronic conditions will not benefit from the latest proposals, which is accepted in the policy letter itself," he said.
None of the changes will come into force until September 2021 and any affected households will be given notice well before then.
To read the approved plans in full, click HERE.
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