Healthcare in Jersey
Jersey has a high standard of healthcare providing a wide range of core services. Our healthcare system isn't part of the NHS. It has different rules to the UK, other Channel Islands and other countries.
Health costs
When you and your family first move to Jersey, you'll initially have to pay for most healthcare services including:
- visits to the doctor (GP)
- non-emergency treatment at the hospital
- prescriptions
- ante-natal clinics
- dental treatment (dentists)
You don't need to pay for treatment in the Emergency Department of the hospital. However, if you're admitted to hospital, you'll need to pay for your stay and any treatment.
You may want to consider arranging health insurance to cover you for any healthcare costs.
If you have any special healthcare needs or an existing healthcare condition, you should look into what support is available on the island ahead of moving.
Health costs when moving or returning to live in Jersey
Health cards
Once you’ve lived here for six months, you can apply for a health card. This reduces the amount you’ll have to pay for a GP appointment and entitles you to free prescriptions.
Your health card only applies to GP visits and GP prescriptions. It doesn’t give you access to free or discounted health care at the hospital or elsewhere.
For more information, or to apply for a health card phone Customer Services on +44 (0) 1534 444444, email customerservices@gov.je. or visit Doctors (GPs) fees, prescriptions and health cards
Emergency treatment
Emergency treatment provided in the Emergency Department at the hospital is free. The Emergency Department is open 24 hours and you don’t need an appointment.
There’s a free ambulance service that islanders can use in emergencies by calling 999.
If you need to see a doctor out of hours for non-emergency treatment, you can see an out of hours GP.
Non-emergency hospital treatment and social services
There’s a charging policy that sets out who is eligible for access to free healthcare services.
Generally, most people who have been working and living in Jersey for 6 months or more will be entitled to free non-emergency hospital treatment.
Check the
charging policy to see if you’re eligible for free healthcare services before you make any changes or cancel your health insurance.
If you don't meet the requirements in the charging policy, you'll have to pay for:
- emergency treatment provided outside of the Emergency Department, including treatment and stays in hospital
- follow-up treatment and outpatient clinics
Hospitals and emergency treatment
Off Island treatment
There are times when it’s necessary for treatment to be given off island. Some specialised treatments are not available in Jersey so we have arrangements with the UK and Guernsey to provide them. This includes some emergency treatments. If you don’t qualify for free treatment then this off island care is chargeable.
If you require treatment in Guernsey or the UK you’ll need to be referred by a Jersey Hospital consultant. We’ll pay for your flights and some travel-related costs, providing you qualify for free hospital care.
All travel is booked through the Health and Community Services Travel Office.
Patient travel and related costs policy
Out of Hours GP service
Jersey Doctors on Call (JDOC) provides an out-of-hours service for patients registered at participating practices. The service is not extended to patients who are not registered. If you’re registered with a non-participating practice, contact your surgery for more information about its out of hours services.
You can only access the out-of-hours services on an appointment basis, so contact your GP surgery first. If your GP is part of the JDOC, they’ll tell you and provide JDOC contact details.
A receptionist at the JDOC will answer your call and arrange telephone advice, a surgery appointment time or a home visit.
Calls made after 11pm by patients are answered by the Ambulance Service, you'll then be referred to the overnight on-call GP call +44 (0) 1534 445445.
Out of Hours GP service Jersey Doctors on Call
Pharmacies
There are numerous pharmacies around Jersey. Most are based in St Helier near the town centre, but there are pharmacies in most parishes. There’s also a pharmacy located in the General Hospital.
If you haven’t been in Jersey long enough to have a health card (six months), you’ll have to pay the full cost of any prescription from your GP.
If you have a Social Security health card, prescriptions are free. Show your health card at any community pharmacy. Different rules apply to prescriptions from a hospital doctor, which must be collected from the hospital pharmacy and may involve a charge.
Medicines which can be provided free of charge are held on a prescribed list and can be obtained from the Customer and Local Services Department or in the latest prescribed list.
Your GP may prescribe items which are not on the list but the pharmacy will have to charge.
Maternity and starting a family
The antenatal clinic and labour ward are based at the General Hospital. We have a team of four consultants who are backed up by midwives, nursery nurses, health care assistants and clerical staff.
Our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), which is based within the Maternity Unit, also has nurses and midwives specially trained in neonatal intensive care.
Our Maternity Unit is made up of:
- a 16-bed postnatal ward with shared bathrooms (4 beds in each wing)
- five private rooms (some with a private bathroom and TV)
- four delivery suites
- a birthing pool room
- dining room
- midwifery station
- midwifery office
Parental rights
gov.je