Islanders concerned over provision of healthcare

Islanders concerned over provision of healthcare


ComhdhΡil OileΡn na hÉireann are urgently seeking a meeting with HSE officials to discuss the serious concerns of islanders about the provision of healthcare on the offshore islands. Islanders who have been fighting to maintain medical cover in the face of proposed cutbacks are seeking to clarify the provision of nurse, doctor and emergency cover for islanders.
Chairman of ComhdhΡil OileΡn na hÉireann MΡirtin Ó Mealoid of OileΡn Chléire, Co Cork has said “Islanders of necessity must have qualified medical professionals available in the case of medical need or outright emergency. ComhdhΡil believes that the provision of nursing services, and indeed the assurance of continuation of these vital services, is and always will be a key element to the sustainability of our island communities. We need a clear and firm islands policy on a national level to ensure continued service provision, and to eliminate the existing uncertainty around health services.”
Islanders on Árainn Mhór, County Donegal recently had to mobilise the community to resist cutbacks to vital public health nursing cover for the island. Inisturk, Co Mayo and Inis Oírr, Co Galway face similar challenges to this essential service in the coming months and islanders across the country are extremely worried that any further reduction in services will have a disproportionate impact on already fragile island communities.
Community worker Mary Heanue of Inishturk said: “Inishturk has not had cover since 2009 for the resident nurse when she has to go off the island for leave or training. The HSE are interviewing at the moment to put a full time nurse in place as our nurse is retiring but they still have no system in place to provide cover when the nurse is off duty.”
The Irish Islands Federation is the representative body for the inhabited offshore islands of Ireland. They currently have 33 member islands, with populations from just one person to just under 800.