HSE told to rethink approach to Achill GP vacancy

ENTITLED TO A RESPONSE FROM HSE Achill councillor, Paul McNamara


Anton McNulty

AN Achill councillor has called on the HSE to rethink their approach to filling a vacant GP position on the island after the position was advertised for at least the tenth time.
The post of General Practitioner for Achill Island has been advertised on the HSE website with potential applicants having until 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday) to express their interest in filling the post.
This is the tenth time the HSE has advertised the GP post on Achill Island which has been vacant since mid 2020 following the resignation of two GPs and the retirement of a third.
Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara told The Mayo News that it is unlikely the latest advertisement will lead to the post being filled and it is time the HSE rethink how they go about filling the post.
“It is time the HSE stop trying to fool the people of Achill by continuously advertising the position when they know that realistically it is unlikely to be filled. This is the tenth time the position has been advertised and there is little or no interest shown in the position as it is at the moment. We are three years down the road and why do they think after the tenth advertisement they will get a positive response now,” he said.
At the end of last year the Joint Committee on Health heard claims that ‘in the past three years, the HSE has spent €1.3 million on GP locums on the island of Achill’. In response the HSE confirmed that since July 2020 HSE Community Healthcare West has spent ‘in the region of €25,000 per month’ employing a GP through a Locum Agency in Achill as it is unable to fill a vacant GP position on the island.

Alternative practice
Cllr McNamara said that HSE cannot continue to spend money this way and now have to consider setting up an alternative practice.
“If the HSE fails to fill this position they have to think outside the box and look at spending that €1 million more wisely. They have to look at setting up an independent practice if needs be and that may be more attractive to potential candidates.
“After Wednesday we want a new plan and approach to filling the post because the position cannot be advertised again,” he said.
In 2020, Dr Fergil Coulihan and Dr Noreen Lineen-Curtis both resigned from their position as Achill practitioners and the retirement of Dr Edward King at the end of 2020 meant that Dr Bernadette O’Leary is the only permanent GP on Achill.
Cllr McNamara added that in a six-month period between 2020 and 2021, five people who lived on the island vacated their positions in the Achill practitioners and he feels the reasons for these have not been resolved.

No response
Cllr McNamara explained he is disappointed that he has yet to receive a response from the HSE to questions he asked them about these concerns.
“HSE have failed to answer the questions I have asked them about and as a public representative for the area I think I am at least entitled to a response.
“I am getting calls on a weekly basis from people concerned by the current GP situation in Achill and the HSE have done nothing to resolve the issue. We have gone from four GPs to one and this is not acceptable. Achill is slightly different from most other rural areas in that it has a population of around 2,200 but from April its population increases with the return of its Diaspora and tourists and peaks out at 10,000 in August. We also have about 200 Ukrainians in the area and no extra medical assistance from the HSE. It is not good enough and this cannot be allowed to continue,” he concluded.