*Criticism of the GP’s absence from Monday’s public meeting was heard. Photograph: Joe Buckley
MINISTER FOR HEALTH, Stephen Donnelly (FF) has met with representative of the Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Forum on the future of a GP in the parish while TDs have said the contract with the current GP should be revoked if plans to take the service out of the village progress.
Under the current HSE contract issued to Saffron and Blue Medical Centre in June 2020, there are between 840 to 890 medical card holders for a Newmarket-on-Fergus based GP.
Addressing Monday’s public meeting discussing the future of a GP in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said he was “shocked and very disappointed” to learn that Dr Gavin was terminating his tenure at Carrigoran in September and planning to relocate the service to Clarecastle.
Such plans act “a huge blow” to the village and parish, he said. “I am absolutely baffled,” Cllr McMahon said of the developments and referenced how Dr Gavin won the contract from the HSE following a process where thirteen doctors had been interviewed.
Expansion of a wastewater treatment plant in Newmarket-on-Fergus gives the possibility of the construction of an extra 100 to 150 houses within the next five to ten years, he said, “this means no public service doctor serving Newmarket is the worst case scenario”.
If the relocation to Clarecastle occurs, the GMS list needs to be “rescinded,” Cathal Crowe TD (FF) stated. The GMS contract provides for the provision of medical and surgical services to persons with full eligibility under the Health Act 1970.
This stance was echoed by Deputy Michael McNamara (IND). “Partly because of the suitable location and partly with the split of private and public, it is a more attractive list when it is private and GMS because one finances the other”.
The Clare Echo attempted to contact Dr Colum Gavin for comment on Wednesday.
A meeting has been arranged with the Minister for Health and a deputation of the Community Forum with Clare TDs. Deputy Crowe said he met Minister Donnelly twice on the matter and that HSE CEO Bernard Gloster was aware of the matter. “The Minister is not revoking the list, there is no commitment of a magic wand to kit out a premises. The focus is to have a village centre practice”.
“He’s willing to meet us directly in Dublin or via Zoom to take feedback from the public. It shows that it is very important when you have the Minister looking at this,” Chairperson of the Community Forum, Paddy Enright stated. He committed to having a second meeting if needed and to advising the community if progress had been made.
