'Forced out on age' Laois doctors should be let work past retirement age says councillor

Rural Laois communities are crying out for GPs but they are being forced to retire, a local councillor says.

Cllr Ollie Clooney has gained the agreement of Laois County Council colleagues to ask for more rural doctors from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Medical Council of Ireland.

He tabled a motion with his request to the February council meeting.

"We need more doctors in rural Laois. It's a problem in rural areas that doctors are getting older. In our case one was forced out on an age thing, he was doing his job very well. Not only did he ring you to tell you about appointments, there was no waiting list.

"We are lucky to have an A&E, thanks to the action committee of Portlaoise hospital and Friends of Portlaoise Hospital. If that had been closed, it would be a disaster now," said Cllr Clooney who is a representative on the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District. 

"We are training lots of doctors but they are all going abroad. Some incentive should be in place to work here, some payback for a year or two. It's expensive to train them.

"We are left with foreign doctors. I've nothing against that but I took an old lady to the hospital for an appointment, and there was a language barrier. She was telling him what was wrong and he couldn't understand her. They need upskilling in the English language.

"This age thing is kicking in. Maybe they should extend the age if there is a scarcity. It's in urban areas as well," Cllr Clooney said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded his motion.

"It is urban as well. I see it majorly in Portlaoise. It's next to impossible to get a GP. People come to ourselves about it. Some have to go outside of town to Portarlington. There are huge waiting lists, a couple of weeks maybe.

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"We have a growing population but the reality is we're losing doctors. That is driving more people to A&E and that is often overcrowded and staff are overworked. 

I want to welcome the planning permission for a new primary care centre in Portlaoise, both myself and my husband Brian Stanley campaigned for it. We need to see it in place as quickly as possible," she noted. 

Cllr John King said he is waiting for the new primary care centre in Rathdowney.

"A site is identified but there is no further work. It seems to be very forward thinking, it gives doctors time to be off," he said.

Cllr Vivienne Phelan said people get "in a panic" when they can't get an appointment.

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"They don't want to show up at the A&E, they feel it's not urgent enough. Firstly we need locum supports to help practices with holiday cover. Secondly we need a rural GP programme for doctors who qualified abroad," she said.

Cllr Padraig Fleming said that some people go to the hospital emergency department to get prescriptions.

"When you're sick you can't wait for days," he said.

A letter will now issue from Laois County Council to the HSE and MCI with the request for more rural doctors.