Healthcare boost for Castlebar and Westport as two new GPs recruited
Between them, these two GPs could provide permanent GP care for more than 2,000 people.
Castlebar Councillor Harry Barrett has welcomed the recruitment of two permanent HSE GPs for the towns of Castlebar and Westport.
The Independent Councillor has said: “I warmly welcome the HSE's decision to recruit two permanent GPs for Mayo, with one based in Castlebar and the other in Westport.
“The Castlebar position will serve approximately 1,400 patients, while the Westport position will have a patient list of approximately 630. Between them, these two GPs could provide permanent GP care for more than 2,000 people.
“This is exactly the type of investment we need in Mayo. For too long, the lack of GPs in this county has led to chaos in our Emergency and to the despicable suffering that happens when people attend the Emergency Department. We need to continue to look at why people are ending up there in the first place.”
The Castlebar based Councillor continued by saying “If people cannot get access to a GP when they are sick, particularly older people, many have little choice but to go to Mayo University Hospital. I particularly welcome the fact that these are permanent HSE GP positions rather than short-term or locum posts.
“However, advertising the jobs is only the first step. The important thing now is that the HSE successfully fills both positions and gets these GPs working in our communities as quickly as possible.
Barrett concluded: “I would also like to see this followed by further investment in GP services throughout County Mayo, particularly in rural areas and in weekend and out-of-hours cover. We will never solve overcrowding in Mayo University Hospital without properly investing in GP and community healthcare. This announcement is a welcome step in the right direction.”