All children in Jersey could soon get free GP visits after politicians narrowly voted to support a motion from Reform Jersey.

Deputy Carina Alves challenged Ministers' budget plans, asking for £800,000 from the Health Insurance Fund to fund doctors' fees for under 18s.

She said there is plenty of evidence the cost of healthcare puts people off getting help.

"Do we really need another review to tell us what we already know? Do we really want to add further delay to something that could potentially save a young person's life now."

Currently only children under 16 from households on Income Support are eligible for free appointments.

The Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson warned the Assembly that the move could 'overwhelm' surgeries and make it harder for families to get appointments.

"We simply do not have any sense of what the demand might be until we do the proper work on this."

Deputy Alves won support with 24 votes in favour of her Government Plan amendment, and 22 against.

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