A lack of GPs is creating a “very difficult situation” in rural Ireland, a Kerry-based councillor has warned.
It comes as an Irish Independent report released today has shown that over two-thirds of GP surgeries are at capacity and unable to take on new patients.
On Lunchtime Live today, Cllr Norma Moriarty said her constituents in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, are facing a complete absence of GPs in the area.
“The wider community there is facing a very difficult situation,” she said.
“One of our GPs retired in the middle of last year and nobody has taken it up since.
“There is also the prospect of a second GP contract coming up as we’re facing another retirement in the next six months.”
More needed
The Fianna Fáil councillor said more needs to be done by the HSE to attract GPs into rural communities.
“We are seeking support and a bit more innovation from the HSE and from the [Health] Minister in terms of how to attract GPs into these vacancies," said Cllr Moriarty.
"Something more, new and different has to be tried because the system of recruitment they have been employing hasn’t been resulting in success
“The truth of it is, people coming in to take up practice here, setting up their lives here, they will enjoy a very high standard of living and quality of life.”
Similar situation
Leader of the Rural Ireland Organisation, Gerry Loftus said his community in in Lahardane, County Mayo, recently faced a similar situation.
“Our long-term serving GP retired in 2018 and then we had part-time GPs coming and going,” he said.
“We thought a full-time GP took up the position in April of 2020 and we were on the pigs' back, but in July of last year, he gave notice that he was leaving.
Since then, the community took action into their own hands and set up a group to try and secure a GP in Lahardane.
“We had public meetings after that and there was a lot of work to be done after that to convince the HSE to keep the place open,” said Mr Loftus.
“We wanted the call to come from the people, the ground, the community and we could turn around and say to our HSE that they were doing this against the will of the people.”
The local campaign was successful and a new GP surgery opened in Lahardane at the beginning of this month.
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Main image: A doctor examines a patient in his office. Picture by: Jozef Polc / Alamy Stock Photo
