Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Blarney GP service closed on 31 December when the GP retired. The service was closed and patients were sent to different areas. They were sent to Ballincollig, Blackpool and Ovens. There was a process under way to appoint a new GP. An announcement came last week and patients were told they would have to travel to Blackpool. There are vulnerable patients, including people with lifelong illnesses, families, and now they are expected to travel from Blarney to Blackpool. The people of Blarney are really upset by this. The HSE should have moved earlier. It was not until I contacted the HSE last year to let them know that the doctor was retiring that the position was advertised. It is not good enough from the HSE to leave advertising GP services to the last minute. It is really disappointing for the residents. To follow on from that, a GP is now retiring in the St. Mary's primary care centre in Gurranabraher. The same thing has happened again. This GP wanted to do a handover with a GP who is also in the primary care centre so that his patients would have the best possible handover and treatment.

The HSE, however, did nothing for months. The doctor did everything in his power to plan for the goodwill of his patients but, once again, the HSE has procedures in place that I do not understand. When it knows a GP is leaving, the position should be advertised immediately. In addition, GP services should be kept locally. There will now be an interim GP service even though there is a GP based right next to the practice from which the GP is leaving. It does not make sense. Patients are losing out again.

The HSE must take responsibility. This affects vulnerable patients. It is really disappointing. People in Blarney have made the point that Blarney is a village but it is growing. It has a huge hinterland. Patients are now travelling all over Cork North Central to get the GP service they need. It is not good enough. I want the HSE to change its procedures and get the GP service back on St. Mary's campus in Gurranabraher and the people of Blarney to get their GP services back in Blarney rather than being expected to travel. Even if a GP was put back into Blarney, there is a significant backlog for GP services. We need the primary healthcare service that was promised for Blarney.

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