Unlike in the UK, Guernsey does not have the free National Health Service and the island has no reciprocal health agreement with the UK, so it is advised that prospective residents consider taking out health insurance.

But while all primary care is provided on a private basis, the Guernsey Social Security Department runs a specialist health insurance scheme which covers the cost of some secondary care and specialist services.

New residents become eligible to receive benefits under this scheme once they have been resident for 13 weeks.

Outside of this scheme, residents are responsible for meeting the cost of treatment for their GPs, chiropodist, physiotherapist, optician and dentist. No charges are made to patients for hospital accommodation, nursing services or drug prescription while in hospital, unless the patient chooses to be treated privately and undertakes to pay fees.