Battle to keep rural GP
Members of Cavan County have joined forces to highlight the importance of maintaining the GP service in Swanlinbar to the HSE. Following a lengthy discussion on the matter at Monday’s monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, proposals by Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) that included writing to the health authority and organising a delegation to meet with chiefs, received unanimous support across the council chamber.
Cllr Feeley asked that a letter be sent to the HSE asking it to advertise the position [which has been advertised three times since 2020] so that the doctor in situ can be appointed on a permanent basis. He also pointed to the need for a council delegation to meet with the HSE “so that we can talk to them about the importance of appointing the GP who has shown commitment and a desire to practice in the community”.
The meeting heard that the HSE indicated recently its intention to amalgamate GP services in Swanlinbar and Ballyconnell. It was also brought to the attention of those gathered that the GP in situ for the last three years in the west Cavan village has been informed by the HSE that his rolling three-month locum contract is not being renewed after the end of the month. A public meeting was also hosted in Swanlinbar last weekend about the issue.
“The HSE plan is to amalgamate the service with another practice rather than appoint the GP that is there,” fumed Cllr Feeley, who added that the GP improved the practice and made the service available to “everyone”.
“He renovated the practice and showed a real interest in the area; the people of Swanlinbar, Templeport, Bawnboy and Glangevlin are entitled to permanent GP services. And, if that GP wants to work with Ballyconnell in the future, then that can be looked at then.”
* Read the HSE's statement in relation to the planned amalgamation of services here
Fine Gael’s Cllr Peter McVitty then pointed to what he described as a “very serious situation in west Cavan”.
“It’s a massive area and to get an appointment with a GP in Ballyconnell could take a week because the service there is at a bursting point,” he continued.
“The HSE has created this problem; why can’t it leave the doctor - who is now settled there - in the position? The people of the area are speaking from the heart when they say that all they want is a GP. We all need to come together and support the people of Swanlinbar and the doctor that is there.”
Pointing to his own recent health issues, Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) told the meeting that when he became ill, he tried to make an appointment with the GP in Ballyconnell but was told he would have to wait 14 days. He eventually was seen by a doctor on “emergency” grounds.
“I don’t understand why the HSE wants to amalgamate Swanlinbar and Ballyconnell,” he remarked.
“In Swanlinbar, the post office was closed; the Garda station was closed; the credit union is down to opening one day a week; and now the HSE wants to close down GP services in the area. This is so serious yet the HSE has a doctor there whose wife qualifies as a GP in July and together they can provide the services that are needed. The people of west Cavan are not going to take this lying down and it’s time the HSE started listening to people.”
Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aontu) and Cllr Paddy McDonald also provided their support to Cllr Feeley’s proposals.
All about 'money'
In conclusion, Cllr Shane P O’Reilly (Ind) said the situation “boiled down to money” and was not about GP services at all. He pointed to medical card payments, which he said are currently worth €700 per patient to a GP. However, he told the meeting that the contract for the service is due for renewal and negotiations will have to take place between the service provider and new GPs.
“Shame on the HSE,” he added. “The only way to deal with this is to go to Monaghan and talk to the decision makers there.”
'There is a solution'
Cllr Aine Smith (FF) agreed that there is an obvious solution to the Swanlinbar situation.
“The GP is there, in Swanlinbar and his wife will qualify as a GP shortly,” said Cllr Smith.
“Together they can provide valuable services to the people of the area.”
The Bawnboy councillor went on to say that she found it difficult to comprehend why the HSE would want to close the practice in the first instance. She also seconded Cllr Feeley’s motion to write to the HSE regarding the situation that has arisen.
“There is only a small window of opportunity now,” she added before pointing to the deadline of February 25 when the current GP's contract expires.