Kildare residents raise concerns over lack of GP services in this town
The issue was raised at a recent meeting of Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District
The Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District is to write to the HSE and the Department of Health expressing residents' concerns over the lack of GP services in Celbridge.
The move follows a motion raised by Social Democrats councillor, Claire O'Rourke, which was raised at a meeting of Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District on Friday, September 18.
According to Cllr O'Rourke's motion, there is “concern” regarding reports from residents who are unable to register with a local GP in Celbridge due to capacity constraints.
Further, Cllr O'Rourke called on the council to seek details of:
- Current GP and primary care capacity in the Celbridge area;
- Planned expansion of GP and primary care services to meet existing and projected population growth;
- Measures available to assist residents who are unable to access a regular GP; and
- How Healthcare infrastructure is being considered alongside ongoing residential development in the town.
Speaking at the MD meeting, Cllr O'Rourke said her motion was seeking the support of fellow councillors in writing to the HSE and the Department of Health regarding local residents who are unable to register with a local GP.
Cllr O'Rourke said that with a growing population, many families found they were able to move into Celbridge but could not access or register with a local GP due to capacity constraints.
This pointed, she said, to a “fundamental disconnect” between population growth and healthcare planning.
Residents, she said, were entitled to know what healthcare capacity exists and what expansion is being planned; they were also entitled to know how healthcare provision is being factored into future growth, and she was seeking clarification from the HSE and the Department in this regard.
Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) said she wished to support “this very important motion”, as there had been significant growth in the Celbridge population over recent years.
“We're beyond crisis point, we were at crisis point five years ago”, Cllr Killeen stated in reference to GP provision in Celbridge.
Cllr Rupert Heather noted this was “a truly excellent motion”, and said he would have no hesitation in agreeing to writing to both the HSE and the Department of Health over GP service provision in Celbridge.
Cllr Paul Brooks (FG), also supporting the motion, said he would like to highlight that this was issue was not specific to Celbridge alone, but presented difficulties “throughout the municipal district.”
With the support of councillors, it was agreed to write to the HSE and the Department of Health over the issues raised by Cllr O'Rourke.