And the Health Department announced that it would look into making a certain number of GP visits free for under-fives when it outlined its ten-year plan to redesign services in 2012.
Now a new doctors’ surgery due to open in St Helier next month intends to offer free appointments to children under the age of five as well as a discounted rate of £12.50 for people aged between five and 18, if their parents are registered with the surgery.
The initiative by Dr Frederik Rud is thought to be the first time such a policy has been offered by an Island surgery and it has been welcomed by a parenting support service, which says that currently some people ‘think twice’ about visiting their doctor due to prices. He will also offer a £25 fixed price appointment for adults with a £10 charge for a follow-up appointment at his new surgery at the Atlantic Surgery at the Lido Wellness Centre.
Find out what parenting experts think of the news in today’s JEP.
