Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am raising this issue because so many people, especially newer people in the Macroom area, are finding it increasingly difficult to get a local GP service. They are being refused because GPs are already overloaded. They will often have to stay with their existing GP who could be many miles away in Killarney, Mallow, Ballincollig or anywhere up the country if they have moved to Macroom. While that is a concern, it is when they need access to the GP that it hits home, for example, if they are working in Cork and there is a sick child in school who has to come out to Macroom and turn around and possibly go back into Cork or all the way up to Mallow to their GP, or even if they are sick themselves.

I have raised this issue before and at the time the expectation was that the new GP contract would address the situation, but it has not. New people are still struggling to get cover. Many of them are travelling longer distances. People are having to pay for blood tests. Outreach clinics are not available such that, for example, a person in Ballingeary whose GP is in Macroom has a 60 km return journey to get to that GP. Out-of-hours services are being provided out of Bandon, 30 km away, causing further distress to locals.

I recognise that there are GP issues throughout the country for different reasons, but there are local issues that are having an impact in this situation. Unique local issues are making it more difficult for residents and for the GPs themselves. There is a very onerous out-of-hours cover rota, at one in seven. This very much contrasts with the rota of one in 30 in the adjacent cell in Cork. It means that a Macroom GP is expected to be on call at night-time and weekends four times more often. He or she will provide cover once every seven days. That discourages new GPs from taking up a position there. There is no rural practice allowance allowed in Macroom despite the fact that the Macroom service covers a very large rural area, from the Lost Valley to Mullaghanish and around to Barrahaurin. This is happening at a time when the population of the town has grown but there is no increase in the number of GPs.

This came to a head again recently when there was a retirement, posts were advertised and only one person came forward for the first round. Following more recent advertising, no interest was expressed in it. It is quite possible that it could go on being advertised for some time before a GP will come forward. As the Minister of State can imagine, this is all putting pressure on locals. It is also putting considerable pressure on the GPs. I acknowledge the significant work that GPs are doing locally. In fairness, they are still capable of providing a same-day service. That is important to acknowledge. However, that can only last for so long. There is phenomenal pressure where people are having to travel further for a GP. People coming into the area are not getting access to a local GP.

A total of €40 million is being set aside in the current budget for enhancement of GP services. There are also commitments on supporting various GP services and supporting SouthDoc and the various organisations around it. In the interests of supporting communities such as Macroom, which are finding it ever more difficult to get GP cover, will the Minister of State raise the issue with the senior Minister and can we in some way or other advance the situation so that people can expect to get access to a doctor in their own locality?

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