FREE GP visits for students are “in the final stages of implementation”, Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham has confirmed.
The scheme, providing free visits for those up to the age of 17, was extended to cover full-time students in higher education when States Members backed Reform Jersey Deputy Carina Alves’ Government Plan amendment in December.
Her proposal – which also made a range of additional services, including blood and urine tests, referral letters, ECGs, swabs, spirometry, ear syringing and pregnancy tests free of charge – is due to be implemented this month.
Deputy Feltham said: “I’m happy to say we are working with the Primary Care Body and are in the final stages ahead of implementation.”
The minister noted that her Reform colleague’s proposition, which was adopted by 24 votes to 20, was one of a number of proposals which her party had brought to the Assembly.
She said she hoped each proposal contributed to making the Island a more inclusive place but added: “It comes down to [the fact that] you only know what you know and have experienced.
“I know – at one of those Policy Centre Jersey events a few months ago – some of the third-sector organisations were incredibly annoyed that a former politician said that there was no poverty in the Island.
“Therefore, there are still those who think there aren’t people living week-to-week and that people should get better at budgeting, but if you haven’t got enough money to begin with, it’s impossible to get better at budgeting,” she said.
