Concerns raised in Dáil Éireann over Lahardane GP loss

Mayo TD Alan Dillon has issued a plea to the Minister for Health and to the head of HSE Community Health Care West to retain the GP service in Lahardane.

The community of Lahardane will be left without a GP service from October 1 with the closure of the Adergoole Medical Centre. The current GP, Dr Enda Loftus is to take up a position as a GP in Crossmolina and despite advertising the vacant position on two occasions, the HSE have been unable to fill the position.

Earlier this week, the HSE confirmed that a locum doctor will not be replacing Dr Loftus in Lahardane and patients will have to avail of a GP in Crossmolina which is 10km away.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann today, Deputy Alan Dillon raised the matter of the GP service during questions to Tánaiste, Micheál Martin.

The Fine Gael TD outlined the lack of HSE consultation and plans for the replacement of Dr Loftus, who has been in Lahardane since 2019. He noted this is the third area of Mayo where the HSE have advertised vacancies for a general practitioner after Achill and Charlestown.

“The Lahardane and Bofeenaun residents are set to lose their GP next weekend in a move which affects 1,100 medical card holders, without them having any say in the process. Although we understand the HSE are trying to recruit more doctors, the ongoing empty GP post in Lahardane is a critical issue.

“The idea of merging the local Adergoole Medical Centre with Crossmolina is causing a lot of fear amongst the community, and rightly so. I am firm on making the HSE answerable to keep a GP service in Lahardane, I would suggest a locum doctor be put in place immediately and split their time between Adergoole and Crossmolina healthcare settings, while settling in Lahardane until a permanent GP post is appointed,” he said.

Deputy Dillon requested that the Tánaiste speak to Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, about this serious issue quickly. “We need to ensure that we have fair healthcare for all and that Lahardane needs fast action now,” Deputy Dillon said.

In response to Deputy Dillon’s questions, Minister Martin replied that sometimes the HSE will re-advertise a position. “Sometimes these issues evolve through demographic issues and challenges with General Practice in rural Ireland and in rural areas more particularly. I will ask Minister Donnelly to talk to the agency. I presume the HSE are very much alive to this issue with a view to trying to get it resolved but I will talk to the Minister in respect of it,” the Tánaiste replied.