NO SUITABLE family doctor has applied to fill a vacancy for a permanent general practitioner in Kilrush, despite five public advertisements over the last five months.
Concern has been expressed about the difficulty securing a resident GP in rural parts of West Clare.
The HSE Mid-West is currently managing a GP Practice in Kilrush to ensure continuity of GP services for the patients. The HSE advertised the GMS panel on five occasions since January 2023, however, no suitable applicants applied. The HSE has organised recruitment campaigns to fill the vacancy since it arose, however, the vacancy has failed to fill on a permanent basis.
HSE Regional Health Forum West member, and Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney believes enhanced recruitment incentives are urgently needed.
Out of the 151 Electoral Districts in Clare, five in Kilrush are classified as economically disadvantaged. Kilrush Urban and Mullagh rank in the Top 100 most deprived EDs across Ireland.
Councillor McInerney said resources need to be targeted to address the needs of the higher percentage of people aged 65 and older and people with disabilities in West and North Clare such as the extension of services in the Kilrush Primary Health Care Centre.
Acknowledging the HSE has tried a number of initiatives to fill the vacancy in Kilrush, the Fianna Fáil General Election candidate called for more innovative incentives to make it more attractive for newly-qualified and existing GPs to set up in places like Kilrush. While there is great quality of life and leisure facilities in West Clare, she stressed it is vital that rural family doctors have access to adequate support health infrastructure such as ambulance personnel.
The HSE Mid-West Primary Care Unit continuously monitors the age profile and the upcoming retirements of GPs who hold GMS contracts in the region. The Primary Care Unit engages with and supports GPs who are nearing retirement with succession planning to ensure continuity of GP care for patients. It is anticipated that two GMS GPs will retire in Co. Clare next year.
The International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme (IMG) is operational in the HSE Mid-West area and currently has 15 places across the region.
The first Rural Fellowship Programme became operational in Lisdoonvarna in November 2023 and has filled a vacancy in this area.
The HSE Mid-West is in line with the national target to increase GP trainees has had a 47% increase in GP Trainee numbers since 2021. It can be anticipated that this will result in an incremental increase in the number of GPs in the region.
Meanwhile, Deputy Cathal Crowe said he hosted a second public meeting in Kildysart about concerns relating to locals access to GP services.
“Everyone is of the same view the quality of their GP care is fantastic but the number of hours the practice is open in Kildysart is a real bugbear for locals.
“Local residents have said their population has grown a lot in recent years. It is too far for them to drive 22 kilometres into Ennis or Clarecastle to see a GP. A HSE contract specifies the practice in Kildysart should be open 14 hours a week.
“I am hoping the HSE can review this contract to see if additional hours can be secured. There must be a calculation method for the HSE to determine the population base, the medical card base and how many medical card hours should be issued to each person.
Primary Care Head of Service, Margaret Costello told Deputy Crowe in a recent letter, the Kildysart GMS medical card panel was advertised by the HSE following the retirement of Dr Ralph in 2015. Despite the best efforts by the HSE at the time to fill the vacancy, there was no interest fom the GP community to fill this panel.
To ensure continuity of care, this vacancy was filled by Dr Quigney of Saffron and Blue Practice, Clarecastle.
Ms Costello confirmed Dr Quigney fulfils the contractual hours agreed under the GMS contract to work 40 hours a week.
The surgery hours agreed include Kildysart 9am to 1pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 2 to 4pm on Thursday, Kilmaley 2 to 4pm on Tuesday and Clarecastle 24 hours a week where patients from Kildysart and Kilmaley can be seen.
Dr Quigney informed the HSE she was unable to secure locum cover over the holiday period during August and September. This is an ongoing issue for GP practices in rural areas.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.