Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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775. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to help with the provision of a replacement general practitioner service in Templemore, County Tipperary, following the retirement of the local general practitioner there. [46568/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Two recruitment campaigns have been undertaken in an effort to find a replacement GP for this single-handed practice in Templemore. The panel was advertised locally, nationally and in the British Medical Journal. In addition, the advertisement was shared with all GMS practices across the Mid-West and with the Mid West Training Scheme in an attempt to attract newly qualified GPs. Unfortunately, the HSE has not been successful in recruiting a GP to this practice.

It is therefore planned that the group practice in the town of Templemore, will take on the panel of patients on an interim basis. An additional GP has been recruited by the practice which means there will be three Doctors providing the additional capacity to provide a safe, accessible and consistent service to the patients in Templemore and the surrounding area. Additional nursing and administrative staff have also been recruited for this practice.

GMS patients have been advised of the new arrangements and how to access the new practice. Whilst the HSE has no responsibility for private patients, private patients have been advised by practice staff of the need to source a new GP. Private patients can contact the Group practice or any other practice of their choice and request to be taken on as a private patient. Should any private patient find it difficult to source a new GP, they can contact the local HSE Primary Care Unit who can support them in accessing a GP in so far as is possible.