Alderney’s longest-serving GP has warned of a “recruitment crisis” as the health sector struggles with staff recruitment and retention.
Staff at the Island Medical Centre, the only GP surgery on the island, have highlighted not only recruitment issues, but also the logistical challenges of being based on a small island.
But, with the difficulties, come the benefits of working among the small island community, they say, adding it is an “extremely rewarding job” offering the opportunity to “meet some amazing patients”.
Dr Jonathan Cooper, who built the medical centre and has been at the practice for 40 years, said he had come out of retirement because “it’s difficult to get doctors to come here”.