Local TD calls on HSE to provide resident GP for Daingean

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has been in contact with the HSE as part of her efforts to have a full-time resident GP practice restored to the town of Daingean.

This follows the decision of the previous practitioner to retire. The absence of a replacement means that the local population is having to seek GP access at distances of between 5km-30km from the town.

Deputy Nolan had previously highlighted how almost 130 people in the Midlands were without a GP to take them on as patients. In 2024 the highest number of applications in the region was from Offaly, where 81 people had applied, according to figures released to Nolan from the HSE.

“I have been consistently highlighting the enormous difficulties that many families are facing when it comes to accessing basic levels of care including being signed up to a GP surgery," she said. "Unfortunately, those difficulties are only increasing as the population grows.

“Already in the first week of this year I have been contacted by three different families, all with young children, who have tried everywhere in their efforts to get a GP to take them on as new patients. All of them have been unsuccessful.

"Some of these are families who have moved back to Offaly to take up employment, only to be left stunned that no GP was available for them. ”

Nolan notes that she warned the Government of the severe implications of the lack of GPs available in rural areas in a motion that she brought forward to the Dáil in February.

"I specifically alerted the Minister for Health to modelling that suggested that by 2025 Ireland expects a shortage of between 493 and 1380 GPs, mainly in rural areas.

“This, coupled with an ageing population and the likelihood that many GPs are due to retire by 2026 (expected to be around 700), paints a grim picture for our rural health service that is being hollowed out due to a lack of political support. I believe that trend can be reversed, or at least mitigated, but only if the political will is there.”

The Independent TD suggested that the implementation of scholarships to medical students from rural areas would encourage young doctors to practice in their home areas.

"We cannot continue to have a situation where up to a third of our GP graduates are being forced to emigrate annually.

“I also suggested that Government bring about changes to HSE policy and put in place new salaried GP posts where vacancies remain unfilled in rural areas, along with providing premises and staff in areas where the patient list is small.

“I believe this is what must happen in Daingean in the short to medium term,” said Deputy Nolan.