Government And HSE Warned GP Services Should Not Be A Luxury

The government and the HSE are being warned that access to GP services should not be a luxury.

It comes as it’s been confirmed that the quest to find a new GP for Newmarket-on-Fergus may soon come to an end, with interviews to be held to fill the position in the coming weeks.

However, the length of time it has taken to fill has come under fire.

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Newmarket-on-Fergus has been without a family doctor since May of last year, when Dr Colm Hackett retired.

In September, it looked like the situation was coming to an end when it was announced an appointment had been made but that fell through at the eleventh hour.

Since then, there has been outcry in the village from locals, who felt they had been left without what is a vital service for those living there.

Now though, there is a glimmer of hope again with confirmation that interviews will be held on the week beginning January 20th or the following week.

Clarecastle Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has welcomed the news but he says it should never have dragged out this long.

In addition, until a full-time GP is put in place, the HSE has confirmed that moves are underway to continue to provide an interim GP service in Newmarket until the new appointment is finalised.

The news has received a broad welcome in the village.

Eimear Murphy of local community group Obair says focus must now be on ensuring that their village, and others like them, have access to the appropriate services going forward.