Kildare Senator Mark Wall has once again raised the lack of GPs in Kildare South
Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Wall said:
I wish to raise the issue of the lack of GPs. This is a particular problem in the commuting
counties. I am sure the Leader will have encountered it as well. I have had representations
from Louth, Laois, Carlow, Wicklow and my own county of Kildare. We have provided
housing in certain places and people have come to live and join the communities there, but
they cannot find GPs. It is a major problem in south Kildare in particular. I have written to
the Minister and the HSE. In its latest reply to me, the HSE stated that it had no role or
authority in assigning a GP to a private patient. Where do we go from here?
These people have young children and are raising young families, and they are driving to
Dublin to where their previous GP practices were to avail of services for their sick children.
One can just imagine putting a sick child into a car or whatever in order to get them to a GP
in Dublin an hour or an hour and a half away. It is just not acceptable.
As I have asked before, we need to have an urgent conversation in that regard and bring the
Minister for Health into the Chamber. With the retirements, etc., of GPs into the future, it is a
huge problem for commuting counties and for rural Ireland. We need a debate on it urgently.
Senator Wall added “Our GP’s have done a wonderful job during this pandemic. Unfortunately for
many Kildare South Residents they are unable to get a GP Service here in the county of their new
home. There must be urgent action taken, we cannot continue to build homes without the provision
of infrastructure and without the services that go with it. The Minister for health must outline his
plans to address this growing problem.
For more ring Mark on 0833341488