Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith, says his Party has fully costed and workable plans to solve the crisis in GP care in rural communities.

Deputy Smith explained, “There is a serious crisis in local primary care services in Cavan-Monaghan. Patients are left seeking a new GP, however sparse they are, as the exodus of GP’s continues. In many cases people cannot find new GP services and rely on Emergency Departments which has consequences for our hospitals.

“Forcing patients to wait for days on end is not only cruel, it could lead to a deterioration in their condition which can ultimately mean that they may need more acute treatment. This is just piling the pressure on an already massively overcrowded hospital system.

“Fianna Fáil is committed to improving conditions for GPs and patients and if leading the next government we aim to put forward workable and costed solutions to solve the crisis.

“If leading the next government Fianna Fáil will negotiate a new contract to underpin General Practice for the next 30 years to include issues such as Women’s Health Programmes, Out of Hours Services and Services to patients in Nursing Homes.  We’ll also increase GP training places to 274 and protect rural GP practices by increasing the allowance to €30,000.

“GPs are, and should be, the first port of call for people who are unwell in Cavan-Monaghan.  Nobody should be forced to visit an ED or wait for weeks for an appointment.  Fianna Fáil will invest in our primary care system, starting with GPs for the people of Cavan-Monaghan,” concluded Deputy Smith.