Appeal against medical centre

THE future of a medical centre that serves more than 1,000 patients has been thrown into question.

Residents of Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, have lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against Dr Maura O’Meara securing a two-year permission to continue operating out of her centre.

Since 2008, she has run her surgery from a residential estate on the outskirts of the west Clare village.

She has one of the largest medical card lists in the county and figures from the HSE show Dr O’Meara received €326,086 in medical card payments in 2009.

However, the GP never secured permanent planning permission and temporary planning permission expired on June 17. The council has granted planning permission for two more years, which is being appealed. A decision is due later this year.

Dr O’Meara told the HSE: “The situation is now grave. The people who are most important in this sorry scenario are my patients... I am most desperate for a solution that will enable me to continue my practice in Miltown Malbay.”

The residents state: “The use of the premises as a medical centre is not suitable for a small cul-de-sac in a residential area due to the volume of traffic being generated.”