‘Vast swathes of the country will be left without GPs’, group warns Dáil committee
Large swathes of the country are going to be left without any GP if supports are not given to doctors.
That's according to the Irish College of General Practitioners who were before a Dáil committee.
They say FEMPI (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) cuts and a lack of cover to give doctors time off are driving young professionals out of the industry.
Dr Brian Osborne told the committee something has to be done or people in rural areas will suffer.
“In the current situation, especially in urban deprived and rural areas, we can’t even get a locum. So the GP can’t even take a day off,” said Osborne.
“This comes back to recruitment and retention. You mention that there’s no GP in Ballymore Eustace – that’s going to become more significant.
“There’s going to be vast swathes of the country without GPS and until people are travelling 50-to-60-mile round journeys for their 80-year-old depressed grandmother, that’s when there’s going to be an outcry.”
