3,200 people per GP in Kildare 'unsustainable' - TD

A Social Democrats TD for Kildare North has heavily criticised the GP care system, and in particular how it applies to Co Kildare.

Deputy Aidan Farrelly was speaking in the Dáil this week when 'Expanding Access to General Practitioner Care: Motion [Private Members]' came before the House.

Addressing the House, Deputy Farrelly said the “irony” with GP care in Ireland is that due to waiting lists, one needs to notify one's GP “well in advance of actually having any symptoms.”

If one leaves it until one is symptomatic, he said, one will quite often not get an efficient appointment.

The Social Democrats TD said this was “no reflection” on the “wonderful work” of our GPs, and noted that Kildare having 3,200 people per GP is simply “unsustainable.”

READ NEXT: €1.4m tourist accommodation/glamping pods planned for this Kildare village

“There has been a population surge in Kildare over the past 30 years”, Deputy Farrelly pointed out.

“It has increased from 120,000 or 130,000 to 250,000. The one thing we can all be absolutely sure of is that while the population has increased, the incredibly important services, such as GP access, have not risen in a similar fashion.

“What we do not see from this response or in the Government's ambition is any sort of urgency. We are not addressing the root cause of issues. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and everyone else have criticised us for not coming forward with evidence-based proposals, constructive dialogue and plans.

“Here we have concrete proposals. In ways, some of the aspects of the motion simply ask the Government to fulfil commitments it set out in Sláintecare nearly ten years ago. What we are doing is trying to match ambition to need. We are not seeing that from the Government's perspective.”

Deputy Farrelly said a “comprehensive workforce plan” was needed when it comes to GP services.

This should involve, he stated, the Department of Housing and the Department of Social Protection.

Calling for an evidence-based approach whereby when housing developments are being planned, it is not just childcare facilities that are stipulated, Deputy Farrelly concluded: “There are people in Kildare right now who are queuing up overnight to buy homes for €500,000 on the assumption that alongside the homes that they buy, the services they need to raise their families will be there. They are not there.”