The HSE is to finally appoint a permanent General Practitioner to Moycullen next month – a full seven years after the post was vacated.
The original public GP died in 2004. During his illness and following his death, the patients on his GMS Panel were cared for by two different GPs until a permanent appointment was taken up by Dr Noel Rice in 2005.
Three years later Dr Rice resigned and the post was filled in a temporary capacity since by two different GPs.
The HSE (Health Service Executive) said interviews to replace Dr Rice took place in 2008 and the successful candidate was offered the position. There was a delay with the candidate accepting the position and subsequently never took up duty in Moycullen.
The permanent position was again advertised in 2011 but interviews did not take place. It was subsequently advertised in 2015 and the successful candidate is currently being processed for appointment.
“This includes references, Garda vetting and occupational health assessment. We anticipate that once this process is successfully complete, the appointment will be made by the end of the year,” Tony Canavan, chief office for community care services in the Saolta Hospital group, told a recent HSE West Regional Health Forum meeting.
A spokesman for the HSE admitted there had been a lengthy delay.
“It is acknowledged that the position has been filled in a temporary capacity for some time but we are satisfied that the GP service has been maintained at all times and we have not received any complaints from patients,” he said.
Under the Choice of Doctor (Medical Card) Scheme, medical card patients can choose a GP of their choice. This is currently the case in Moycullen and will continue to be the case following the filling of the temporary position in a permanent capacity.
“Any General Practitioner who has a GMS Contract with the HSE is free to accept medical card patients onto their GMS Lists. General Practitioners who do not hold GMS Contracts cannot accept medical card patients as they do not have contracts with the HSE for seeing such patients,” he added.
Fine Gael Councillor Padraig Conneely had been consistently raising the vacancy in Moycullen, querying if the post was being kept for a particular doctor.
“I can’t understand why it has taken so long to fill this appointment. The reasons they keep giving don’t make a lot of sense. I’m unhappy with the procedure being followed here,” he stated.
“This is a lucrative position – I’m told it could be worth €15-€20,000 extra a month, depending on the number of clients so I would still question why it’s dragged on.”
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