Improved infrastructure could attract young people to rural areas

Madam Editor,

The report in the (Irish Independent July 11) entitled ‘’Rural Ireland is losing another lifeline’’ as up to 50pc of GPs are set to retire confirms that the decline of services in the regions continues at pace.

The projected loss of general practice in rural areas will be another major blow similar to the loss of so many vital services in rural Ireland in recent years.

Dr. Padraig McGarry chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation GP Committee, said there is a ‘’very real threat’’ that some GPs in the worst affected counties will not be replaced.

In particular west of the Shannon where they will not be able to attract young doctors, because of excessive hours and poor supports.

He also said that a number of elderly patients will be forced to travel long distances to attend a number of different medics after the retirement of their local GP.

This is not good for on-going patient care and recovery, as the essence of general practice is the continuity of care and establishing a trusting relationship with your own local doctor built up over many years.

He went on to say that the problem could soon extend to urban centres unless corrective action is taken in the short term.

With the closure and centralization of so many services in recent years this is the latest nail in the coffin of Rural Ireland.

What is needed in the regions is improved infrastructure, better health and education services, broadband, the creation of business hubs at each of our regional international airports, etc, which in turn would bring economic opportunity and prosperity, resulting in attracting back thousands of young people to well paid jobs in our towns and villages.

The recent announcement of a senior Minister for Community and Rural Affairs Mr. Michael Ring is a huge step in the right direction and shows a real com- mitment by our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his government to tackle the problems that exist in our countryside.

Perhaps they even might consider bringing back again, the department headquarters to the south Sligo town of Tubbercurry where it resided for a number of years, with its 100 plus jobs and give a real boost to the Sligo economy.

Meanwhile the continuing problem of replacing our retiring GPs in Rural Ireland with younger medics, in the years ahead, poses a major headache for the powers that be at the highest level.

Let us hope that for the sake of the very many thousands of rural dwellers across the country that they can reach a successful conclusion, with a much more equal and balanced programme in the months and years ahead. Yours Sincerely, Tom Towey, Cloonacool,

Co. Sligo.