Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I highlighted the age profile of the GPs, the age profile and demographics of the remote and isolated areas where there is rural decline also show that there is a higher proportion of older people there. Given the principle of primary care, treating a person suffering from chronic illness or minor procedures in the least complex environment, the need is obviously to retain GPs in rural areas to provide primary care. This would be complementary to other primary care and community-based services. The fact that these areas have low populations does not mean there is not a high dependency on rural GP practices and primary care, particularly when one considers the demographics of these rural areas and the regional disparities between urban and rural areas but, more importantly, in the isolated areas.

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