Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are chronic shortages in general practice right across the State, including in many of our rural communities. They have been worsening in recent years. I see it throughout many towns and villages in Roscommon and Galway. People are unable to see their GP and are waiting for weeks for an appointment to see their GP and more and more GP surgeries are running waiting lists and are unable to take new patients.

It is obvious that the situation is getting worse and that the Government is not doing enough. There is also an issue whereby when word goes around that the local GP is either leaving or retiring, there is widespread fear in rural communities. I was contacted just this morning by a resident of Williamstown. Their local GP is leaving and they are concerned for the future of the GP service in their rural community. That should not be the case. They feel that they will have a battle on their hands in order to make sure that a GP is retained in their area. That should never be the case for any rural community, or any other community for that matter.

Not being able to access a GP can have serious consequences for a patient's health. There are a number of short-term measures that can be taken by this Government immediately. My party has repeatedly called on the Government to develop a directly hired GP contract so that directly hired GPs can cover areas where they are needed, that this can be targeted and that they can also provide cover in respect of vacancies and absences in understaffed practices. This is something that can be done immediately. Additional primary care staffing supports can be put in place, particularly around public health and practice nurses. Those supports would take the pressure off GPs. There should also be a greater role for pharmacies. Again, we have repeatedly called for a minor ailments scheme as a first port of call for minor illnesses. That could be done through our pharmacies.

These are the measures that are needed now. I acknowledge that the Minister of State has referenced that the numbers undergoing training are increasing. That is great, but it takes four years to become a GP. We need measures that will make an immediate difference because patients cannot wait.

What is being done in respect of dental care, such as the changes and the contract, has not been enough. Not a single dentist has taken up the contract in Roscommon or Galway. Clearly, this matter needs to be looked at again. I ask that the Minister of State would do that.

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