The Health and Social Service Department operates the island’s hospitals, community health services and social care services.  These include acute services, elderly care services, a public health department, services for people with learning disability, mental health services and Mignot Memorial Hospital in Alderney, Children Services and St Julian’s Hostel.

Guernsey healthcare is funded differently from the UK National Health Service.  There are three primary care groups in the community and a medical specialist group that provides second level care by consultants.  There are no junior doctors employed by the group.

Primary care doctors are in private practice and patients are required to pay for their visits to the surgery, for house calls and care provided in the Accident and Emergency Department.  Patients must also pay for dental treatment, chiropody, physiotherapy and opticians.  A number of Provident Associations and Friendly Societies run local private insurance schemes, as well as the large healthcare insurance providers, to assist with these charges.

However, if a patient is referred for secondary care provided by the Medical Specialist Group, all care and in-patients facilities are free.  This includes radiology and pathology, physiotherapy and other services.  This second level care is funded by a compulsory health care insurance payable by the working population and another level of insurance covers long term care.  Patients may still choose to be treated privately and there is a private wing attached to the main hospital.

Long-stay elderly care is mainly provided by private nursing and residential homes and those people requiring places are assessed on need and a level of funding is provided by the Social Security Department.