Out-of-hours cancer care at Guernsey's Emergency Dept no longer free

Cancer patients who require A&E treatment overnight or at weekends in Guernsey will now be charged for their care.

Previously, patients needing care when the Bulstrode Oncology Unit was closed were treated free of charge at the A&E Department.

Now, cancer patients will be charged when receiving care at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital - bringing charges in line for all patients.

The Health & Social Care Committee says the decision was made "to ensure the charging schedules were fair and equitable" for all patients:

"The amendments to the charging schedules made were submitted and fully supported, agreed and ratified by HSC’s Corporate Management Team and the Committee for Health & Social Care prior to their implementation in May of this year."

The decision is being criticised by Guernsey Cancer Alliance and the community group Health Equality for All.

In a statement, the Chair of HEAL, Mike Read, said: "This is a cut in service to a vulnerable group of patients dressed up as a move towards equity.

"Secondary care is meant to be free, where you access medical support at the PEH as a direct result of that treatment is just geography."

Guernsey Cancer Alliance supports HEAL's statement.

Mr Read says: "HEAL are deeply concerned that HSC appears to be introducing a model of healthcare that favours the ‘better off’ (financially), and acts as a deterrent to the less well off."

The Government says it has made the decision so all patients with life-limiting illnesses are treated the same.

HSC says: "Whilst we fully appreciate that this change has had an impact on the patients who previously attended the Emergency Department at no charge, the changes made do ensure that the charging structure is more equitable to everyone with life-limiting or chronic illness."