Guernsey health system
Guernsey health system отличается от британской системы National Health Service (NHS). Primary care doctors are divided into three groups, there are no so-called junior doctors.
Patients pay out of pocket for primary care. Thus, a visit to a general practitioner, dentist, emergency department, as well as the services of a physiotherapist and a number of other specialists are not free. However, secondary care (secondary care) of narrow specialists, any treatment in a hospital, diagnostic tests – all this is provided absolutely free of charge in Guernsey. Of course, if you live in Guernsey.
There is compulsory health insurance, for which all employed residents pay – it helps to finance the listed services. Patients can choose private healthcare of the highest quality and comfort – such opportunities are offered in a private wing of the main hospital of the island.
The international cooperation
Guernsey has health cooperation agreements with several countries. The agreements provide for reimbursement of the cost of treatment: a citizen of the partner country during his stay in Guernsey receives in full the medical care that he will need. Among such partners: Portugal, Iceland, Austria, Australia, Isle of Man, New Zealand, Sweden, Great Britain.
Despite bilateral agreements, travelers are advised to ensure they have international health insurance. By the way, European Health Insurance Card insurance is not valid in Guernsey.
Treatment in Guernsey
Guernsey’s main and only major hospital is the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Tourists from other countries that do not have agreements with Guernsey on reimbursement of medical expenses must pay here for all services, radiology, medicines.
Dentistry
On the Yellow Pages you can find all the dental offices of the island. If you need a dentist at night, you can only find one at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital (phone (01481) 725-241).
Urgent Care
You can contact the Guernsey Rescue Service on 999 or 112. Ambulances always take patients to the A&E unit when Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Without exception, all guests of the island receive emergency care here.
Medications
If you do not live in the islands and are not covered by an interstate medical reimbursement agreement, then you will have to pay the full cost for your doctor’s prescriptions.
Medical tourism in Guernsey
Today, Guernsey has not yet become a full-fledged medical tourism destination. According to independent experts, Guernsey has great potential for economic development in the future, including significant opportunities for the development of medical tourism.
Experts say that healthcare is one of the most stable and reliable sectors of the country’s economy. Now Guernsey has a reputation as a famous offshore center, but under pressure from the EU, this source of income will someday dry up, and the island will have to turn to other ways to fill the treasury, including tourism.
Oxford Economics consultants say that Guernsey is well positioned to develop centers for cosmetic and plastic surgery. Against the background of the planned increase in taxes in the UK, these procedures in Guernsey would be in high demand among the British, and not only.
The report says: “To attract wealthy and demanding medical tourists, Guernsey has a breathtaking natural beauty and qualified staff – it remains only to add a premium service to this.”