Galway Bay fm newsroom – Over 250 medical card patients on Inis Meain and Inis Oirr have been waiting more than 8 years for a permanent GP.
The HSE is struggling to find doctors willing to take over lists of medical card patients, including under-sixes, in several areas nationwide.
According to today’s Irish Independent, 13 GP lists did not have a permanent GP at the end of February.
One of the worst affected areas is the Aran Islands of Inis Meain and Inis Oirr, which has seen medical card patients left in limbo for 8 years.
10 other panels across Ireland were vacant more than six months, while a further four have been without at full-time GP for over a year.
