Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

I thank Senator Wilson for sharing his time on this issue.

The people of Mullagh do not have access to a GP service in their town. No matter what the HSE says about an existing contract, the service is actually not being delivered. The GP service in the town finished in February 2011 when the GP in place informed the HSE he was discontinuing his sessions there. Under the terms of his contract, he is obliged to do two sessions per week in Mullagh. In correspondence I have seen, all the HSE has done is requested him to consider recommencing the service rather than telling him to do so under the terms of his contract. Will the Minister intervene to get GP services resumed at Mullagh? It has been an ongoing concern and raised by local representatives at the regional health forum. While formal complaints may not be on record, public representatives have been vocal on it.

Canvassing in the town during numerous elections, I have noted how it has grown. Along with an elderly population, there are many young families there. Rural transport services are not great in the area which has resulted in people from the town either hitchhiking or paying for taxis to get to the GP in Moynalty and Bailieborough. It is not acceptable to have young mothers with small children having to thumb a lift or pay for a taxi when they are already struggling. The Minister for Health must put pressure on the HSE to ensure a basic GP service for Mullagh.