SF highlights meds woes ahead of policy launch
David Cullinane
AN EPILEPTIC woman has been unable to access a medical appointment due to a shortage of doctors, Sinn Fein has stated.
The party’s health spokesman David Cullinane has also revealed the case of a 16-year-old child who is “eating Panadol” as she cannot get a tooth removed due to a lack of dentists in her area taking medical card patients.
Mr Cullinane will launch a new policy document called “Caring For Communities: Sinn Fein’s Plan to Improve Local GP and Health Services” in Dublin this morning.
The document is a follow on from the party’s motion discussed in the Dail last week calling for greater GP and dental provisions across the country.
As part of the launch, Mr Cullinane will highlight cases of individuals who have contacted Sinn Fein representatives’ offices about their issues obtaining access to GPS, doctors and dentists.
DISTRESSED
One person in Donegal told their local Sinn Fein rep that their pregnant partner, who works as a nurse, had been unable to find a GP.
They explained: “I previously served with the Irish Army for over 12 years and now live and work in Donegal.
“My fiancee has been living and working in Donegal for the last year as a nurse in care homes.
“She is recently pregnant and we require a GP local in order to get an appointment in the local maternity hospital.
“She was refused a GP... due to patient quota reached.
“My fiancee is a high risk pregnancy due to her epilepsy.”
Another member of the public in Galway explained how their 16-year-old daughter needs to have one of her teeth removed.
However, the distressed parent has been unable to find a dentist who will take a medical card.