Fears for future of GPs in North Connemara

October 4th, 5:03pm October 4th, 5:03pm

Galway Bay FM News Desk

Galway Bay Fm newsroom – A report issued this week by the Irish College of General Practitioners raises serious concerns about the future of a medical practice in North Connemara and about the availability of doctors for duties on offshore islands in the future.

The report is focused on the future of rural medical practices in Ireland.

The introduction highlights one general practice in north Connemara which it states is unlikely to continue due to what are described as financial issues. The particular practice is not named.

It is pointed out that this practice has lost a number of allowances which were formerly available to rural medical doctors. Loss of this practice could see people having to travel between 50 and 70 kilometres to get to a doctor.

Islands communities are also at risk according to the report. There are over 1400 people living on the islands of the Galway coast but newly trained doctors will not serve islands in the future unless there are better contracts and infrastructure according to this report.
Máirtín Ó Catháin for GBFM in Connemara.