Charity To Provide Reduced Rate Dental Care For Jersey’s Poorest Residents
A Jersey charity has negotiated discounted fees for health and dental care for the island’s poorest residents, it has been revealed.
Love Thy Neighbour is working with local health providers to provide people on low incomes with cheaper medical and dental treatment. The charity has also been liaising with local vets, pharmacists and counsellors.
Colin Taylor, from Love Thy Neighbour, explained that the scheme is only available in St Brelade and St Peter at the moment, but there are plans to expand in the future. The programme is means-tested and there may be a sliding scale system, which means that people who can afford to pay make a small contribution.
According to Mr Taylor, many people who are ill avoiding going to see a doctor because GP services are entirely privatised on the island and the average cost of a consultation is £80, although fees are subsidised for residents who have been living on the island for a long period of time and those who claim benefits. Mr Taylor decided to try and do something to help those who were unable to afford routine care and regular appointments and approached local professionals to gauge their interest in a scheme to help low income patients.
Dr Nigel Minihane, leader of the body, which represents GPs on the island, said that many doctors have been trying to find solutions to access for a long time and the new scheme with Love Thy Neighbour is a promising development. Dr Minihane added that he was pleased to hear that so many health professionals are interested in helping. He also stated that although in the short-term, the charity project will make a difference, there is a lack of long-term plans and more needs to be done to improve the situation for less affluent residents.
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