‘Rathmore needs full GP service, not a few hours’
A KERRY county councillor has labelled the introduction of a temporary one day per week GP service in Rathmore as “an insult”.
Rathmore has been without a GP for the past 10 months with locals forced to cross the county bounds and travel to Millstreet for treatment.
Last week the HSE introduced what has been described as a temporary one day per week clinic - Thursday afternoons - but such hours fall far short of when Rathmore was previously serviced by a six-day per week GP operation.
“This is an insult,” Cllr Niall Kelleher (right) told The Kerryman, adding: “The GP started last week on a oneday-a-week temporary basis but Rathmore needs a full-time GP service as soon as possible”.
“People are very frustrated. The only reason we have a doctor at all at the moment is because pressure was put on the HSE by politicians and Rathmore Community Council.
“A couple of hours on Thursday isn’t good enough. The people of Rathmore, Gneeveguilla, Knocknagree and the surrounding areas were always facilitated by Rathmore, naturally they can’t plan what day of the week they’re going to get sick,” he added.
With local practices widely considered an important focal point in rural areas, Cllr Kelleher fears that a reduced GP service could further adversely affect Rathmore.
“There’s a bigger issue here as it’s not just about the GP, it’s about Rathmore as a rural town and the fact that if we are not offering the services of a rural town then people are going to go to other towns which is taking business out of Rathmore and the local economy.”
Councillor Kelleher continued: “The facilities which are currently available to the HSE were deemed unsuitable 10 months ago, so why should they be suitable now?
“The HSE have given us a commitment they have located a premises and they are going to apply for planning permission. I haven’t seen anything yet and I’m updated weekly.
Meanwhile, the HSE has said that planning permission on new premises is expected to be completed by January 2016 but as an immediate measure, it has rearranged its service in the HSE Centre in Rathmore to allow access to a GP service from 10.30am every Thursday.