Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Leas-Cheann Comhairle for taking this Topical Issue matter this evening. We were at a protest in Templemore last Saturday. We have been contacted by numerous constituents in the area who are extremely concerned about the general practice of Dr. Hennessy not being filled by the HSE. Dr. Hennessy had a significant practice over many years and he served the locality well. The HSE failed and it has not tried hard enough. My request to the Minister tonight is for the HSE to provide an extension of six months to the practice in the town to allow ample time to get a replacement. This is for both public and private patients. If public patients are taken on by the other practice in the town, that practice will be overrun with patients. We have seen mergers of practices in other areas of our county where the level of service to patients is not up to the standard required. The earnest request I make of the Minister this evening is for a six-month extension for Dr. Hennessy's practice in Templemore to allow the HSE ample time to get a replacement.

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