Jersey GP access 'should be free' for vulnerable people

Vulnerable people in Jersey should have free access to their doctor, according to a panel of politicians looking at Jersey's health service.

The panel has said many people struggle with medical costs in the island and some do not go to the doctor when they need to.

The findings come from a report looking at the level of benefits.

Social Security Minister, Deputy Ian Gorst, said the healthcare system was already being transformed.

Deputy Gorst said the transformations were being carried out with people on low incomes in mind.

The report by the scrutiny panel suggests, particularly for those with children, that paying for medical care can result in "a serious dent in household finances".

Deputy Geoff Southern, who oversaw the report, thinks the whole benefit system needs overhauling.

He said: "That has led to people worrying about the cost of their visits to the GP.

"With some of those families there is evidence they are not going any more.

"That runs completely counter to the thrust of our health provision, which says we should be doing more preventative work and more with GPs in primary care."