Concern is being expressed in Clare that frontline medical services are falling apart in this country.
It comes as doctors from this county have joined their National Association of General Practitioners in Dublin, where they’re demonstrating outside Dáil Éireann.
Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports:
President of the NAGP Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail has reassured patients that while there will be disruption today, it’s for the greater good.
Hundreds of GPs are demonstrating outside Leinster House this lunchtime, calling for the reversal of austerity-era cuts to primary care funding.
They say there’s a recruitment crisis in general practice, with around half of newly qualified doctors leaving Irish shores.
Scarriff-based Dr Conor McGee, a former NAGP president, says it has reached breaking point.
Ennis GP Dr Máire Finn is backing up that call.
Dr Finn says the funding issues go back several years now and it’s time to start pumping money back into primary care which, in turn, will have a positive ripple effect on our health service as a whole.
Meanwhile, crunch talks are being held between officials from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the HSE will be held later ahead of a third strike at hospitals tomorrow.
The UL Hospitals Group is warning of longer waits at University Hospital Limerick today; with 50 patients without a bed there this morning alone.
Tomorrow then, will see all outpatient appointments, daycase and inpatient surgical procedures cancelled in Limerick once again.
