'Crisis' flagged in GP services in Monaghan
THE “CRISIS” in GP service availability in County Monaghan was raised at last week’s meeting of the County Monaghan Local Community Safety Partnership by Carrickmacross local public representative Noel Keelan.
He highlighted the issue during a presentation by HSE Director of Nursing Aoife Bailey on regional healthcare services relevant to the LCSP’s remit.
Cllr Keelan said recent media reports have described County Monaghan as having the lowest per capita level of GPs in the country and this issue has been highlighted by local politicians for some time due to the great difficulty in accessing GP services.
“Many of my constituents have to go to Louth, Cavan or Meath to see a GP and that is not acceptable,” he stated. Describing GPs as the “gatekeepers” for other health services, he said their role in referrals is crucial.
Cllr Keelan expressed particular concern about the difficulties elderly people face in getting GP appointments and the situation of people needing to see a GP in order to get access to mental health services.
“This issue needs to be addressed,” he told the meeting. “It is a serious problem in County Monaghan, and I want to commend those GPs who are working very long hours to accommodate patients.”
Cllr Keelan also pointed to the numbers of GPs who have retired from practice in the county in recent years and the significant number now approaching retirement.
AUTISM AND ADDICTION SERVICES
Zoe Wells, Co-ordinator for the Cavan and Monaghan Drug and Alcohol Service, raised with Ms Bailey her concerns that new protocols for autism assessment didn’t appear to be in operation at local level.
“The Minister for Health announced the new protocols in March,” Ms Wells stated, “but they don’t seem to have yet been implemented on the ground in Cavan/Monaghan.”
North East Drug and Alcohol Task Force Co-ordinator Andy Ogle hoped that the HSE will soon announce the appointment of more addiction counsellors for the Cavan/Monaghan region. He also called for further development of the acute addiction liaison nurse service for the two counties to make sure there is a care pathway to community-based services for patients presenting in Cavan Hospital with addiction issues.
Mr Ogle said the NEDATF is about to launch a health diversion project aimed at people caught in possession of illegal substances. He hoped that the HSE will sanction a post in Cavan/Monaghan to assist with the initiative.