Portlaoise needs a primary care centre and more GPs

Portlaoise needs a primary care centre to address the fast growing population of the county.

So said Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley at the recent meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District.

Cllr Dwane Stanley proposed a motion calling on the council to contact the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, to express concern about the difficulties to register with a GP in the municipal area and to advance plans for a primary care centre in Portlaoise.

“We’re all aware how difficult it is to get on to the GP list, due to the fact that it’s bursting at the seems there’s a six-month waiting list for GPs,” she said.

Cllr Dwane Stanley pointed out that Laois has the fastest growing population outside Dublin and there is no doubt we need more GPs. She said that Portlaoise needs a primary care centre and Portarlington already has one.

“At one point we were promised a primary care centre at St Fintan’s Hospital, I don’t care where it is but we need one,” said Cllr Dwane Stanley. “There’s a crisis at present, if this continues my concern is that the doctors will be out, too.”

Seconding the motion, Cllr Noel Tuohy said that as the town is growing at its current rate the area needs more recognition.

Cllr Mary Sweeney said that everyone had personal experience of the difficulty of getting to see a GP, while Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said that another problem was the lack of GPs.

In response to Cllr Dwane Stanley's motion, it was agreed that a letter will go to the Minister.