There is a lack of urgency from Government to address the current GP availability crisis in Rural Ireland.
That’s according to the Rural Independents Group who have introduced a Dail motion calling for immediate action to address what they have described as “critical” shortages in General Practice across rural Ireland.
In Dail this morning they highlighted recent data revealing that the majority of rural GPs are currently unable to take on new patients.
Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae says the number of GP’s in many areas falls well below European Union standards…
" Over two thirds of GPs sixty-six percent in rural Ireland are currently unable to take on new patients with some reporting waiting times of up to two weeks for an appointment."
Healy Rae expanded that "the Irish medical Organisation warns that Ireland having only seven GPs per 10,000 population, one of the lowest in the European Union, falls well below the required minimum of 12 per 10,000 to ensure a safe and effective healthcare service."
