Kiltimagh GP vacancy
Deputy Dillon raised the resignation of a GP in Kiltimagh and poor HSE handling of the vacancy, leaving elderly patients uncertain about continuity of care. The Taoiseach said he would speak to the Minister but stressed the HSE should address such issues locally.
I raise the issue following the resignation of a permanent GP from the general medical services, GMS, practice in Kiltimagh, County Mayo. The handling of the situation by the HSE has been hugely disappointing. There has been no stakeholder engagement with the local community or public representatives in assisting to fill the permanent GP position. Little or no clarification is available from the HSE about efforts to recruit a locum GP or about why this has not been done.
Elderly people were shocked to be informed last Friday by the HSE that they were required to find new GPs before 31 May. The HSE has indicated it has advertised for the medical card scheme on only two occasions. This will have a knock-on effect on the provision of GP services in Kiltimagh, with only one remaining GP in the town. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to intervene, seek clarification from the HSE on this matter and request that the HSE re-advertise for a locum until a permanent GP is recruited and that the existing GMS panel be temporarily transferred.
Comment on this
I can but I expect the HSE at regional and local levels should be dealing with these issues with local representatives, to be fair. I will talk to the Minister but the broader point is that such issues should be resolved at local level. It is a serious issue for residents of the area.