Kildare village loses GP service
Photo for illustrative purposes only
KILDARE County Council is set to write to the HSE and the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill regarding the provision of GP services in Ballymore Eustace, with the village without a doctor since 20 October.
Ballymore Eustace-based councillor Evie Sammon brought forward a motion at the most recent meeting of Naas Municipal District seeking correspondence with the HSE on the issue.
Cllr Sammon told the meeting that a petition calling for a full-time GP in the village has attracted more than 700 signatures.
The Fine Gael councillor said that the current GP in the HSE health centre is due to cease providing services after 20 October. There is no private GP practice in the village.
Cllr Sammon said the HSE does not directly appoint GPs and that the position would instead be advertised through a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, which covers the provision of medical card services.
She said the council’s letter should seek the provision of a full-time GP service and ask when the contract will be advertised.
Cllr Sammon received support within the chamber, with leas-chathaoirleach Ger Dunne suggesting that the letter also be sent to the Minister. Members agreed that letters would issue to both the HSE and the Minister.
Ballymore Eustace, situated between Naas and Blessington on the Wicklow border, is noted for its elderly population and became Ireland’s first age friendly and climate-friendly village earlier this year.
