Co-op keen to explore opening GP service
CO-OP bosses would be 'keen to explore' opening a GP practice in Guernsey, but said more research was needed into the existing barriers of the market before it could commit.
CI Co-op launched a healthcare business in Jersey in November when it acquired two established practices.
Competition there is thriving and patients have begun to see discounts and price reductions across the board.
The new practice's price reduction was mentioned in the regulator's review of Guernsey's primary healthcare.
But the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities said similar propositions in Guernsey could face more challenges than in Jersey.
The removal of the cap on the number of GPs in Guernsey, which will be put before the States later this year, would break down one of the barriers, it said, but it would not be a single solution.
Channel Islands Co-operative chief operating officer Mark Cox said the company had looked at opening doctors' practices in Guernsey, however, unlike Jersey, there were limited opportunities to purchase existing practices as the market was served by three large operators.
