No doctor, no clinic and few options

Regan Kelly

A crisis is emerging across rural Ireland, characterised by a significant lack of facilities in small towns and villages.

One notable facility such areas are lacking is basic healthcare, including GPs. Rochfortbridge, for example had one GP, but that practice was closed just after Covid.

The population of the Rochfortbridge area is in the region of 2,000 people, yet their nearest GP is in Tyrrellspass, and that practice is already inundated with patients.

People have to travel to Mullingar or Tullamore to receive most of their treatment, as many services are becoming increasingly centralised in the larger towns.

Many residents do not have access to vehicles and frequently don’t have anyone they can depend on to drive them. Some bus routes pass through the village, but schedules don’t always suit appointment times.

In previous years, Rochfortbridge had a HSE clinic that dealt with minor injuries, mother and baby services and basic medical services.

It has closed, and the building it had occupied is falling into disrepair. Last year, Junior Minister Robert Troy enquired about plans for the building, and the head of primary care services sent him this reply: ‘The HSE is currently in the process of disposing of this property by the provisions of the HSE Property Protocol.’

Cllr Dennis Leonard said: “When you look at what the village had, they had a doctor and a clinic that provided a lot of essential HSE services.

“That clinic not only had a GP, it had a crèche, and treated basic services like wound dressings and minor complaints; it was just completely taken away from the village.

“This is so difficult for people who don’t drive, especially older people who may not have anyone to take them to appointments.

“It’s simple, the population has tripled and now our basic services have gone; it’s probably the fifth or sixth biggest town in the county, and it’s left without any medical services whatsoever.

“It’s not just a healthcare issue, a lot of rural towns and villages are left without basic services, we have a poor public transport network, and if the fabric of rural Ireland is to be maintained, we need all of these services restored.”

Measures to help

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has announced a locum support initiative to provide access to cover for up to 239 GPs in rural and remote areas.

The aim is to help alleviate the pressure on rural GPs and will help them to find cover when needed.

Minister MacNeill stated: “Ensuring GPs in rural and remote areas can access reliable locum cover is essential to supporting these vital healthcare providers. It allows them to take the leave they deserve, knowing their patients will continue to receive high-quality care in their absence.”

Cathy Whelehan is involved with active retirement groups and the Older Persons Council in Rochfortbridge, which, like many other towns and villages, has an ageing population (approximately 20% are older than 66).

Cathy said: “The subject of healthcare comes up again and again,and the main takeaway is, unless you can drive, you are at the mercy of the local bus routes.

“It’s a really big worry, especially for people who are suffering; these people need to see doctors. Particularly as you get older, you will get a little bit more weary about your ailments.

“It’s also a big worry for families, in a lot of cases, older people cannot, or do not, drive, and their families have to take time out of their day to drive them, causing a huge disruption to work and family life.

“If we had a doctor in Rochfortbridge, we simply wouldn’t have that problem,” Cathy concluded.

Breeda Daly is chairperson of Social Services and the Active Retirement Group. She said: “In this day and age, it’s not right. It’s an absolute basic right to have a doctor in your local area.

“They expect people to be able to drive, I don’t drive, and I’m one of the lucky ones because at least my husband does.

“There are people here living on their own who never drove, and people who get to a certain age cannot drive any more.

“People need access to a doctor, it’s just a basic thing, especially for a growing village like Rochfortbridge.”

Breeda spoke about what the feeling among the elderly village is:

“They’re worried that if they get sick, they don’t know what is going to happen, how they are going to get to their appointments.

“It’s a huge dilemma for them, I just don’t know what is next. God help people is all I can say.”