Anger as HSE withdraws GP service from rural area

MORE than 200 elderly and infirm people, most of whom don’t have their own transport, will have to travel nearly five miles to see a doctor after the HSE withdrew the service of a locum from a Co Cork town.

As people gathered in Doneraile yesterday to voice their anger at the move, local Fine Gael TD Tom Barry presented Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, with a petition signed by 720 people against the service being axed.

The locum was employed by the HSE to conduct clinics in the town’s main street, while attempts were made to fill a permanent position.

He administered the clinic following the retirement of a local doctor.

Unfortunately, despite extensive advertising in both print and online media nobody applied for the post.

As a result the HSE is to withdraw the locum service and advised medical card holders that they should register with other doctors in the area, the nearest being Mallow.

Doneraile Development Association chairman Willie Hallihan said that many of the patients were invalided, house-bound or were parents with young children who didn’t have their own transport.

His said his association had asked for a meeting with the HSE last week, but was still awaiting a reply.

“This is yet another blow for a rural area, especially when there is a viable business opportunity. The ultimate solution would be the employment of a permanent doctor, but in the meantime we would accept [the retention] of a locum,” Mr Hallihan said.

Maureen Lenihan, who owns the local pharmacy, said the minister had said he wanted to ensure community-based services were maintained.

She said the loss of the locum would have serious consequences for a number of local people.

“Those that can stand will be thumbing on the road to get to another doctor,” Ms Lenihan said.

She said that “at minimum” people wanted the locum kept for at least another six months until a permanent doctor could be found to administer the clinic.

“One of the most frustrating aspects of this situation is that people in Doneraile were not aware that they were about to lose their doctor. Patients got two weeks’ notice to move. While many of the patients who have moved to another practice in Mallow or elsewhere are mobile and agile, many more are not. Those are the people who need to be protected by the HSE, by their community and by the Minister for Health,” Deputy Barry said.

Picture: The protest outside the GP surgery in Doneraile over the withdrawal of the GP service from the town. Picture: Denis Minihane