Fianna Fáil deputy leader and TD for Mayo, Dara Calleary, has warned the HSE that any merging of GP surgeries in Bangor and Glenamoy will only succeed if the nurses and secretaries at the clinics are retained.
Deputy Calleary explained: "I have made it clear to the HSE, the outgoing Minister for Health and more importantly his Department officials, that it is important any merging of the Bangor and Glenamoy GP services retain the assistance of the nurses and secretaries at both clinics. These professionals are vital in the smooth running of a GP surgery and should be kept on in their roles.
"GP surgeries in this area are vital for the communities they provide health care to. The Doctor is almost always the heart of a village, but so are the nurses, secretaries and other staff in a GP surgery. Under Fine Gael there has been an exodus in rural GPs and it has become increasingly difficult to find a new GP.
"Fianna Fáil have made it clear we want to support GP services in rural communities. If in government, we are committed to protecting rural GP practices by increasing their allowance to €30,000 while also implementing the recently agreed changes to the GP contract and include provisions for its continuous assessment and improvement to make the role of a rural GP a more attractive one.
"I will continue to engage with the HSE to lobby that the nurses and secretaries at Bangor and Glenamoy remain in their roles as the GP surgeries merge," concluded Deputy Calleary.
