DONEGAL has seen a
worrying decline in the number of GPs working in
rural areas, a TD has warned.
Deputy Thomas Pringle said: “We are witnessing,
especially in Donegal, a declining proportion of GPs
working in rural areas, a decline from 33% in the
early 1990s to 22% in 2005, and in Donegal there are
only 48 per 100,000 of the population compared to 64
nationally.”
He said Donegal medical practices faced challenges
during the roll-out of free primary care for
children under six and people over 70.
“While the Government attempts to roll-out free GP
care to those under six years of age and those over
70 years of age, it is worthwhile considering do we
have enough GPs in Donegal to cater to a sudden
demand in care?
"If rural areas do not have the infrastructure to
support the demand then the standard of care may
reduce," Deputy Pringle told the Dáil.
Speaking on the Health (General Practitioners) Bill
2015, he added: “We need to ensure that children and
elderly people can access the standard of care they
need but in order to achieve this, the Government
needs to work on the health infrastructure so that
GPs will not only stay in the country, but in the
county as well. "Focus needs to stay on rolling out
a primary care system which brings healthcare to the
community, meeting the health needs of the
community." |
