Mayo candidate slams government for its stance on rural GPs

Mayo independent candidate, Harry Barrett, has expressed frustration is opposing a plan to ensure greater access to GP care across Ireland.

Legislation, which is due to be put before the Dáil, calls on government to boost the number of General Practitioner (GPs) doctors available in rural Ireland.

It claims that two thirds of the country's GPs are unable to take on new patients.

It added that there are two-week waits for appointments in those regions.

Barrett continued: "It is very obvious now that this government has no intention of solving the trolley crisis.

"It is a known fact that there is a severe shortage of GP's in rural Ireland.

"There is legislation planning to deal with this issue and now we have a government trying to counter it.

"General practice in Mayo is under immense strain, yet the Minister for Health and the government have failed to act.

"A Bill from the rural independents has called on government to fill vacant GP positions in rural areas, introduce salaried GP positions and develop long-term strategies to attract younger people from rural areas to the profession.

"The people of Lahardane showed this could be done. GPs are the backbone of our healthcare system.

"We have severe shortages in Castlebar, Achill and Charlestown. Doctors themselves are under huge pressure and are finding it difficult to keep up with the demand.

"And all the while it is leading to people having to rely on West Doc at the weekends.

"When West Doc gets swamped, the only available option left is to go to the accident and emergency in Mayo University Hospital.

"This chaos has to end, yet we have a government now countering legislation that could solve it."