Efforts to resolve Lahardane GP impasse ongoing

A LAHARDANE delegation met with officials from the HSE in Castlebar last Friday in a bid to fill the village’s GP vacancy. The talks were attended by a doctor who has indicated his willingness to take up the position. The HSE and the GP are to meet again later this week

Gerry Loftus, leader of the Rural Ireland Organisation and part of the delegation, described the hour-long meeting as positive. However, he emphasised that resolving the issue has been complicated by the fact the list of medical card holders attached to the Lahardane surgery has been transferred to Crossmolina.

“The HSE informed us at the meeting that as far as they are aware they have never been in this situation before, where there is no panel of patients attached to the surgery. Normally when a doctor leaves, there is a panel and patients left for the new doctor, but there is no panel here, and for that reason it is not as simple to resolve,” he explained.

The north Mayo community has been left without a GP service since October 1 after Dr Enda Loftus, GP there since 2020, left to take up a vacant position in Crossmolina.

The Lahardane GMS (General Medical Services) number – a list of clients that includes approximately 1,100 medical card holders – was also transferred to the Crossmolina surgery.

“We are progressing to the stage where the doctor and the HSE will have a discussion between themselves, but it is a slow process,” Mr Loftus explained. “The problem is there is no panel and this man [doctor] has no patients to take on. That will be between himself and the HSE to iron out.

“It was our job to get it this far, and we have got a doctor and the HSE talking, and now they have to talk – it is as simple as that. We are moving along and hopefully we are coming to the end of the road. The communications between all sides are strong, and the meeting was positive and nobody is talking about walking away from the table. Everyone wants to resolve the problem. Everyone is hopeful it can be worked out, but it will take patience,” he said.