No more doctors on your doorstep

Parts of rural County Galway are facing the prospect of no longer having their own local doctor – because of cutbacks, emigration and an ageing GP population.

People living in rural areas have been warned they are set to face longer journeys to see a GP and longer waiting times.

Already, areas like Moycullen and the Aran Islands are without their own full-time GP for medical card services for the past seven years … and new research shows the situation is set to spread to other parts of the county.

The Irish College of General Practitioners carried out an analysis of its members, and found rural practices are under threat.

And they have warned that the urban/rural divide for GP cover will mirror the divide between public and private healthcare.

Figures from the HSE for the GMS Scheme (General Medical Services Scheme, where contracts are entered into between the HSE and GPs to provide medical services) show three vacancies for County Galway at the moment.

In Moycullen, where there are 592 people registered with medical cards, that has been a long-term locum in place for six years and seven months. The position was previously advertised, but there were no applications.

On Inis Oírr and Inis Meain, 255 are registered with cards, and a long-term locum is in place for seven years and three months. There is a temporary contract holder in place.

In Portumna, there has been a four-month vacancy to date – the position was advertised by the HSE with a closing date of April 9.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.