Home / Health / Jersey A&E Charges Delayed Amid Scrutiny
Jersey A&E Charges Delayed Amid Scrutiny
9 Dec
Summary
- Jersey's A&E plans to charge for non-urgent care are on hold.
- £77/£97 fees proposed for non-residents using A&E inappropriately.
- Health panel sought assembly approval before fee implementation.
Plans to introduce charges for non-urgent treatments at Jersey's sole A&E department have been temporarily halted. Initially proposed as part of the 2026-2029 budget, Health Minister Tom Binet suggested fees of £77 for residents and £97 for non-residents for those who could seek care from GPs or pharmacists.
However, the Health and Social Scrutiny Panel put forward an amendment requiring the States Assembly's final approval of implementation plans. Minister Binet has agreed to present further details on the proposed system and its potential impact on both patients and staff before any changes are enacted.
This deferral comes as Health and Care Jersey estimates approximately 14,000 patients annually utilize A&E for issues manageable within the community. The panel's amendment aims to guarantee that fees are only introduced after thorough scoping, analysis, and explicit approval from the assembly, ensuring patient health and staff well-being are prioritized.
