GP services in Kildare town 'totally inadequate' – Seanad told

A South Kildare Senator has raised the issue of the lack of GP services in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare.

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin raised the matter in the Seanad this week with Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell.

Senator O'Loughlin told Deputy O'Donnell that Ballymore Eustace, “a beautiful small town in County Kildare between Naas and Blessington”, has a lack of adequate GP clinics.

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She said this is despite the fact that it has a growing population of 1,700 people, and the highest number of older people in Kildare, according to the most recent census.

She said: “There was a full-time clinic in Ballymore Eustace and about 15 years ago, a GP based in Blessington, whose name I will not mention, took over the practice.

“Initially, the agreement was that there would be four clinics a week in the HSE premises and that, therefore, the local population would miss one day.

“Over the first summer, however, without any consultation with the HSE or the local people, that was cut to two clinics, on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“Given that on bank holiday Mondays, the practice would not open, that meant there was a service of just one clinic morning a week, which is totally inadequate.”

According to Senator O'Loughlin, the GP practice was encouraging patients from Ballymore Eustace to go to Blessington, which she said is some distance away with poor public transport.

The Fianna Fáil Senator told the Minister of State that at one stage, a doctor from Naas approached the HSE about holding additional clinics in Ballymore Eustace, but on the agreed day, when the doctor arrived at the premises, “the locks had been changed and the HSE said it could not happen.”

After two years, she said, the clinics in Ballymore Eustace are back down to two days, Mondays and Tuesdays, from three, which she said is wholly inadequate for the population.

The fact that the clinics are only held twice per week, and in some instances, once per week means the population is not being served, she said.

She added: “I feel strongly that the Minister of State is in a position to help deal with this and ensure the people of Ballymore Eustace get the full-time GP practice they need and deserve.”

Responding to Senator O'Loughlin, Deputy O'Donnell said that as self-employed practitioners, Gps themselves rather than the HSE determine where they will establish their practices.

The Minister of State pointed to “significant supports” for practices in rural areas, which were increased under the 2019 GP agreement.

There has also been significant investment in GP services in general, he pointed out.

Furthermore, he added, a strategic review of general practice is under way which is examining issues related to GP capacity.

This review will specifically consider rural and under-served areas, he said, and will be presented to the Minister for Health with recommendations.

Deputy O'Donnell advised Senator O'Loughlin to write to the Minister directly with any further concerns.

Senator O'Loughlin replied: “Many people I know in Ballymore Eustace are using Vista and out-of-hours services, so something is wrong.

“I will respond with an email to the Minister and copy the Minister of State on it. I will also contact the HSE directly.”