Guernsey supplied free flu jabs to Sark by mistake

Sark's only GP doubled its prices for adult flu vaccines last week

Sark was supplied free flu vaccines by mistake, according to the States of Guernsey.

Health and Social Care (HSC) said Sark's GP practice was not charged for flu vaccines "for a period of time" because of an "internal miscommunication".

It said Sark's Medical and Emergency Services Committee was informed of the mistake in March this year and told charges would be reintroduced from 1 April.

A spokesperson for HSC's pharmacy service said: "Sark is an independent jurisdiction and as its residents do not pay into Guernsey's tax system, they are not eligible to receive benefits such as free influenza vaccinations."

'Close working relationships'

Sark Medical Centre doubled its prices for adult flu vaccines last week to £20, which it said was because "Guernsey has said it is no longer able to supply flu vaccinations to Sark free of charge".

HSC said: "Given the close working relationships within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the pharmacy at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital continues to assist the Sark GP practice with the supply of vaccines."

The Sark Medical Committee said it was "very grateful to Guernsey for providing flu vaccines to its adult residents until now".

Eligible people on the island of Guernsey get flu vaccines for free.

Sark is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, but operates a separate tax system as well as its own parliament, Chief Pleas.

Like all of the Channel Islands, Sark is not part of the UK's National Health Service, so residents pay for medical treatment, either directly or through health insurance.

The island has one doctor, but no hospital or resident dentist, so people living on the island need to go to Guernsey for more complex procedures or the UK for major treatments and surgeries.