Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Affairs Conor D. McGuinness TD  has raised the growing GP “crisis” which he says is impacting communities across Waterford.

Raising the issue during questions to the Minister for Health in the Dáil this week, Deputy McGuinness criticised the impact Government inaction is having on both patients and practitioners.

Deputy McGuinness highlighted the long wait times for appointments, the distances some patients must travel to visit a doctor, and the growing instances of individuals and families unable to get taken on by a GP.

He said: “This is being felt in the areas I represent in towns and villages from Tallow to Dunmore East, Portlaw, Dungarvan, Lismore, Cappoquin and Kilmacthomas.

“Capacity is simply not keeping pace with demand for GP services. General Practice is the coal face of the health system. Family doctors provide excellent care but the increase in demand coupled with reduced capacity means the entire service is stretched.

“Retirement has created particular difficulties in West Waterford for people accessing GP services. The Irish College of General Practitioners said late last year that 25% of GPs currently working are aged 60 or over, so this problem will only get worse.

“There are significant barriers to young GPs entering practice, particularly in rural Ireland. They need to be faced down.

“I put a parliamentary question to the Minister a number of weeks ago. The hands-off approach of the Department to, in particular, guaranteeing GP services to non-medical card holders, leaves an awful lot to be desired in rural communities including in my own constituency of Waterford.

Deputy McGuinness criticised the Department of Health’s “hands-off approach” to guaranteeing GP services, suggesting that the government’s current strategies, including recruitment of GPs from abroad and increasing training places, are insufficient.

He proposed directly employing GPs within the health service as a potential solution.

While Deputy MacNeill acknowledged the frustration associated with accessing GP services and outlined existing government measures, Deputy McGuinness says she failed to provide concrete solutions to the immediate and escalating crisis.

Deputy McGuinness said the Government’s response lacks “the urgency and decisive action required to ensure timely and quality GP care for all citizens, particularly those in rural and remote areas.”

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