Select a region
The owner of Alderney's sole GP practice has announced his decision to close the business at the end of this week.
Following the shock announcement Alderney and Guernsey's governments say they are now working "at pace" to ensure the island's community retains GP cover.
In a statement issued last night, Guernsey's Chief Minister Deputy Peter Ferbrache and Chair of Alderney's leading Policy and Finance Committee Bill Abel commented: "We understand that this situation will be cause for concern for Alderney residents, so we want to reassure islanders that we are exploring all available options to ensure the Alderney community receives appropriate GP support in the short term, and to develop a sustainable and robust healthcare service in the long term.
"GP services in Alderney, like Guernsey, are delivered through private providers and is therefore not part of Guernsey’s Committee for Health and Social Care responsibilities. However, given the clear importance of this issue for the Alderney community the States of Guernsey will offer its full support to help find a solution."
They continued: "Services for which HSC is responsible continue to be delivered as required in Alderney, however both islands’ governments were very concerned to learn from the owner of Island Medical Limited that he would be closing the Island Medical Centre practice this coming Friday.
"This is understandably a difficult time for staff who work for the practice and it is important to note that the current difficulties are no reflection whatsoever on them.
"We have been actively exploring alternative options to ensure appropriate GP cover remains in place for the people of Alderney in the context of an acute national shortage of these doctors. We will provide an update as soon as possible."
Follow Express for updates...
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.