Warning Guernsey A&E fees could rise

Proposals from Policy and Resource's savings sub-committee are expected to be published in 2024

The President of Guernsey's Health Committee has warned A&E fees may rise.

At a scrutiny hearing Deputy Al Brouard said he would like to propose increased fees before the end of this political term.

He said: "I’d prefer not to put up fees, but if you give me the choice of people suffering or people paying, someone will have to pay."

Mr Brouard also suggested he would like to look at whether free prescriptions for over 65s were suitable.

'Expected pushback'

Under questioning from Scrutiny Management Committee President Yvonne Burford, Mr Brouard said at the moment A&E costs £4m and only brings in £2m.

He said this move would require the support of the States before happening.

Mr Brouard said he expected there to be pushback to the idea, citing the example of a decision to charge cancer patients which was reversed last year after public pressure.

The suggestion of increasing fees for A&E has been submitteed to Policy and Resources savings sub-committee.

It is tasked with finding between £10m-£16m of savings per year.

Health and Social Care was asked to attend a scrutiny hearing after a potential £30m overspend in the project to extend the hospital was announced

Mr Brouard stressed he did not want to see a move to an American style of healthcare where people "are forced to sell their house" to pay for treatment.

"We are caught between providing a service to islanders with an entitlement to it, but we can't provide services this century on last century's income tax arrangements," he said.

"Whether it is income tax, GST, but if you want health provided universally, people will have to pay."

Mr Brouard voted to introduce GST last year, despite the States voting against the proposals.

"I don't think we have raised enough tax. I'm partly to blame, I'm a last term politician and won't be standing again," he said.

"But we are behind the curve, but at the moment we want to do populism."