The system for accessing doctors (GPs) in Guernsey and Alderney is significantly different to the UK. This section gives an outline of how to contact a doctor and things that you will need to be aware of when needing to visit a GP Practice in Guernsey or Alderney.
General Practitioners (GPs)
- General Practitioners (GPs) are in many cases the first point of contact if you are feeling unwell and need to seek medical advice, or you want to check your general health and wellbeing.
How do I access this service?
- To see a GP you first need to contact one of the local surgeries (practices) who will ask you to register with them if you are not already a patient on their records. Most surgeries will offer you an appointment at relatively short notice if you don't mind which doctor you see. There is a direct cost to the patient for appointments, prescriptions and tests available from GPs.
- Appointment costs are currently subsidised for local residents by the States of Guernsey and in some other cases grants or benefits may also be available. For more information, please contact Social Security on 01481 732500.
- Out of hours contact with a GP will depend on the services that are provided by each of the practices. For more information about each practice please follow this link.
- GP Practices are run privately in the Islands and are not part of the Committee for Health & Social Care that is funded by the local government (States of Guernsey).
Feedback, Questions and Concerns
- If you have any questions or concerns about GP services or the treatment and care that you have received from a GP in Guernsey or Alderney you should in first instance contact the practice via the Practice Manager. If your concerns about the performance or practice of a GP you can contact the Responsible Officer via email, ResponsibleOfficer2@gov.gg.
- For more information about the professional standards of practicing doctors go to the General Medical Council.
Emergency Department
- The Emergency Department is at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, and offers emergency care for patients available 24 hours a day. Staff in the unit are employed directly by Health and Social Care, and include consultants and specialists doctors in emergency medicine.
- As for GP's, there is a charge for visiting the Emergency Department. The current charges levied in the ED can be found here.
Specialist Doctors (Consultants)
- The Medical Specialist Group (MSG) in Guernsey is a private practice of specialist consultants with expertise in certain areas of medicine. Patients are referred to the MSG by their GP. In some cases, patients who have been referred on to see a consultant (sometimes known as a 'specialist') will be eligible for that treatment and care to be paid for by the States of Guernsey. Those patients can then receive treatment and care for that condition from an MSG consultant at no direct cost to them. This second level of consultation and is known as 'Secondary Care'.
- The Medical Specialist Group also provides treatment and care that can be paid for directly by the patient. This is known as private patient care. For more information about the private patient services that are provided by the Medical Specialist Group please visit their website.
States Employed Doctors
- Some of the specialist doctors who see patients and give medical care in the hospital are employed directly by the local government. This includes doctors in the Emergency Department, and Consultants in Psychiatry, Medical Imaging (Radiology), Pathology and Public Health.
Standards of treatment of treatment and care.
- The standard of treatment and care that is provided by any doctor practicing in the Islands should meet the professional requirements set out by the General Medical Council. From a patient's perspective, you should be satisfied and confident about the standard of treatment and care that you are receiving.
- If you have any questions or concerns relating to the care provided by your doctor you should contact your GP practice. For MSG doctors you should contact the MSG practice, Tel: 01481 238565. You can also leave feedback by contacting the Customer Care Team on 01481 725241 ext: 4969
Healthcare for Visitors to the Island
Whether travelling to or from the islands it is important to be aware of the need for healthcare insurance. More details can be found here.
Health subsidies for children
- Children resident in Guernsey and Alderney are now entitled to certain health subsidies up to their 18th birthday, funded by the redistribution of family allowance. A visit to the GP for children will now only cost £25, with a visit to the practice nurse costing £15.
- More information is available here.
