Waterford people having to ‘travel a couple of towns away’ amid ‘struggle’ for doctors

People in County Waterford are having to “travel a couple of towns away” for doctors’ appointments, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness made the remarks during a debate on a motion which calls for expanded access to GP care.

Deputy McGuinness outlined the decline in the availability of doctors nationwide and the impact it is having, particularly in rural areas.

He stated: “There was a time when every town and village had a family doctor. They were rooted in the community and known to everybody across generations.

“Today, that model is under real strain in urban areas but particularly in rural Ireland. GPs are the anchor of our health system.

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“They are the gateway into our health system in most cases. They provide long-term, continuous care from cradle to grave, yet successive governments have failed to plan properly for primary care.”

Deputy McGuinness cited the Future Together report of 2001, which warned about shortages in GP numbers and practice-based staff.

He continued: “25 years later, we are still playing catch-up. The rate of GPs per head has barely improved in that time and is now moving in the wrong direction.

“The number of practising GPs fell from 4,583 in 2019 to 4,420 in 2022. One in four GPs is aged over 60, so there is another crisis coming. Only one in five practices is open to new public patients.”

He went on to outline what impact this is having in Waterford, particularly in the west of the county.

“In County Waterford, the impact is really clear. In Dungarvan, people struggle to secure timely appointments.

“In Portlaw, access is restricted during the week and there is no full-time availability. The issue in Lismore with the primary care centre that is now delayed has been mentioned.

“It is back to the drawing board and the starting blocks, through no fault of the people of Lismore or anybody practising medicine. The Government needs to get to grips with that and expedite that process.”

Deputy McGuinness also highlighted the lengths that Waterford people are having to go to to access healthcare.

“Across villages and country areas, older people and people with disabilities are travelling well beyond their own communities for routine care.

“That is creating an additional burden and barrier. People in Dungarvan, for example, have to travel a couple of towns away. It is simply not sustainable.”

He acknowledged the hard work of doctors, arguing that the Government is to blame for the problem.

Deputy McGuinness concluded by citing Sinn Féin’s plan to increase GP training places if it was in government.

These sentiments were echoed by his party colleague and fellow Waterford TD, David Cullinane.

Deputy Cullinane, who is also the party’s health spokesperson, further outlined the need for a primary care centre in Lismore.

He stated: “Unfortunately, that is back to the drawing board. The preferred bidder, the contractor, pulled out because of the viability of the project, which means it is back at the starting block again.

“I ask the Minister to take that up with the relevant officials in the HSE. That project now needs to be seriously looked at.

“I visited the area with Deputy Conor McGuinness a number of times in recent years, and I know how much it is needed for the people of Lismore.”

He also voiced his support for the motion, calling on more efforts to expand the access people in County Waterford have to GP care.

“On the thrust of this motion, many areas of general practice are working well and I am a big believer in the relationship between GPs and community care.

“All of the supports and additional services now being provided in primary care centres and the chronic disease management teams mentioned in this motion are important and they work.”

Deputy Cullinane cited the case of one GP, who had difficulties in dealing with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

He concluded by describing the bureaucracy in the health system as “ridiculous” and called for the issue to be addressed.