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The Committee for Health and Social Care (HSC) has declined to answer whether a surplus of funds has been created by charging private patients a 25% uplift.
In a recent statement, HSC said that the uplift was “not intended to generate a surplus” but did not answer Express’ questions regarding any unintended surplus. It said that it would seek to understand the effects on its revenue should the uplift be removed.
In its statement, HSC said applying the uplift seeks to recover “the wider direct and indirect costs incurred by HSC for offering a private service” but said “it would be inaccurate to describe such costs as profiteering”.
“The 25% uplift is not intended to generate a surplus but to recover a proportion of operating expenses as described, as per other charges raised by the States of Guernsey for some of its services."
Pictured: HSC said the uplift seeks to recover wider direct and indirect costs, including pharmacy dispensing charges.
In addition to asking whether a surplus has been created, Express also asked HSC to confirm whether any private healthcare surpluses are used to subsidise other individuals/services which the private patient may not benefit from. HSC did not provide a direct response to this question.
One private patient commented that “it is immoral that the outcome of your health is dependent on your finances”. Express asked HSC to respond to the patient’s comment, but it declined to do so.
In its statement, HSC said that it, and its staff, “has to make difficult decisions regarding funding on a regular basis”.
“HSC is mandated to provide a wide range of health and social care services, not solely medicines, for the Bailiwick within a fixed budget. The Committee’s intention to transform its services are set out in the Partnership of Purpose. One of its key aims is to ensure fair access to care by removing financial barriers that prevent islanders from accessing the help that they need.
“This applies to all service areas provided by HSC and its partners and, of course, has to be done within the fixed budget allocated to the Committee. Nonetheless, HSC’s officers have been working hard to implement the decision of the States of Deliberation to fund NICE TAs with an ICER value of up to £40,000.”
Pictured: HSC President, Al Brouard, previously confirmed that the private pricing policy is not set out in an operational policy document.
HSC said it would “be looking to better understand the effects on HSC’s revenue position if the uplift for private patients were to be removed but this is not a commitment to do so”.
“This will take place as soon as is practicable whilst balancing this matter against other pressing issues and HSC’s priorities as identified in the Government Work Plan. Any change in this area is likely to impact on the ability to offer other services without additional revenue being provided to compensate.”
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