As well as free dental examinations, emergency department and GP visits for children will be £25 and a visit to a practice nurse will be £15.
The Commission for Health & Social Care hopes that parents and carers will be encouraged to have their annual check-up at a dentist of their choice. The child’s social security number (beginning with “GY”) should be provided at the time of booking and you must state that you are booking for the ‘States Annual Dental Checkup’.
Pictured: Children’s A&E visits will be £25, regardless of subsequent treatment required.
Children with special needs, Looked After Children and families receiving income support can access their check-ups through the Children’s Dental Service.
Any child who needs restorative treatment, including fillings, can be referred by their dentist to the Children’s Dental Service and receive the treatment free of charge until their 12th birthday.
Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry and Head of Pediatric Dentistry, Sarah Lyle, said: “It’s much easier to prevent tooth decay than to treat it, so it’s fantastic that we can provide a free annual dental check to all children under 18.
“If you haven’t already taken advantage of your free annual check-up, I would strongly encourage all parents and guardians to do so for the benefit of your child’s dental health.”
The new emergency department charge set at £25 will be paid at the time of the consultation regardless of whether the children are covered by private medical insurance, however the amount will cover all subsequent treatment provided.
Islanders receiving income support will continue to have their participation and consultations funded by Employment and Social Security and therefore will not have to pay for their consultation at that time. This is part of a wider initiative to encourage everyone who attends the Emergency Department to pay by the day.
Pictured: Children will be entitled to a free dental check-up every year until they turn 18.
President of the Commission for Health & Social Care Deputy Al Brouard said the Commission hoped the subsidies would “ensure that income is not a barrier to access to health care for children”.
“Now we really want to get the message out about these changes. We want parents and guardians to book their children’s free annual dental check-up,” he said.
“We want people to know that now it’s a lot cheaper if your child needs to go to the Emergency Department or the doctor or the doctor’s office.”
The redistribution of family allowance and the introduction of health and education subsidies were agreed by states in August 2020.
Pictured: Pediatrician appointments will be £25 and nurse visits £15.
Anyone who received family allowance before 3 January 2022 whose allowance has now stopped and is not sure why can email pensionsallowances@gov.ggcall 222506 or find more information HERE.
