John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The meeting on Sunday night highlighted Milltown and I ask that the Department of Health and its Minister engage with the community and local politicians to resolve the matter. We had a meeting yesterday in Killarney and that proposal has been progressed somewhat. It is part of the Sláintecare objectives to roll out primary care in every community and Milltown is just an example of one of many rural towns and urban areas that are finding it very difficult to maintain and replace retiring GPs. The matter must be tackled and financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, cuts affecting GPs must be reversed. There is also a need to look at the wider area of supports from the Health Service Executive to encourage GPs to take up contracts. Without primary care services or GPs operating in every town and village, the recovery of the health service will be almost impossible.

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