Is there some reason why GP’s don’t want to work in Meath?
That’s the question being posed by Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín who says that while the county is one of the fastest growing in the country, the number. of GP’S remains stubbornly low.
Cllr. Tóibín says
“We have 1 GP per 3059 people according to outdated population figures so the real ratio is even worse and considerably well below the national average”.
“We currently have 6.26 GPs per 10,000 population in Ireland, but the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) suggests this needs to increase to at least double to ensure a safe and effective service. We know we have an ageing population and this presents inherent issues in ensuring people receive the care they need in a timely manner”.
“I have been monitoring this situation closely since 2022 and the number of GPs operating across Co. Meath has not improved since I last asked the question in 2022.”
“It’s all very odd and people are really being to wonder why Meath is bucking the trend for GP’s numbers, for all the wrong reasons”.
“While I greatly welcome the announcement of a new Medical centre in Clonmaggadon, Navan with four GP’s, I am unsure if they in addition to or included in the updated figures I received from the HSE today (Friday 28th March)on GP numbers for Co. Meath”.
“People are really concerned about this situation. Billions are being poured into the HSE ,we know our health is our wealth, yet people cannot get an appointment with a GP due to the huge and ongoing shortage .We know that our young Doctors are emigrating in their droves, we are literally educating them to export them and it really is no wonder given they can’t find a house or apartment to live in “.
“As of today there are just 34 houses to rent in the entire county of Meath and it is a big county”.
“The mismanagement of our economic prosperity has brought us to this. It has thrown up a myriad of really negative consequences, one of the most serious being the lack of GP’s for a hugely growing population”.
