‘Truly shocking’: Pregnant woman unable to get GP in south Donegal

A pregnant woman has been left in limbo and unable to obtain the services of a GP in south Donegal.

The woman has been told that she needs a referral from a doctor to begin appointments with the maternity department at either Letterkenny University Hospital or Sligo University Hospital.

Kirk Taylor says he and his fiancée, who live in Rossnowlagh, have been turned away from medical practices in Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Donegal Town.

“They are just telling us that their books are full,” he told Donegal Live.

“Something needs to be said because this is just a disgrace. She needs to see a GP in order to get a referral for the maternity unit, but we can’t get the GP appointment, which is the first step.

“I am so angry at this. This isn’t just as if it’s waiting on a mechanic to fix a car and we can do without it; this is actually urgent. 

“We need to get registered with a GP so we can get started off getting scans. It feels as if no-one cares.”

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty, who has branded the situation as ‘truly shocking’, has vowed to raise the matter with the HSE.

Kirk is a former soldier, who served in The Curragh Camp and Finner Camp, and now works with Shane Connolly Cars in Donegal Town.

A native of Belfast, he has lived in Donegal for the last 17 years. His fiancée works in care homes in the south Donegal area.

He said: “One place has told us that their books won’t be open for maybe another seven weeks and they are full to capacity.

“Others just aren’t even entertaining us. It feels like a real kick in the teeth. My fiancée has been working in care homes and I served the country in the army for years. It just feels here like we don’t matter.

“People have been questioning the health system in this country, but here we are and we can’t even get on the system.”

Another expectant mother in the Finn Valley area has also told of being turned away from medical practices who have also said that they are operating ‘at capacity’ and not taking on new patients.

Deputy Doherty told Donegal Live: “Access to a local GP is such a fundamental right, it is truly shocking that someone in this situation cannot get the healthcare that they require.

“The government must look at the situation in rural areas and provide assistance to remove the barriers to being registered with a local health centre. This type of thing should not be happening in this country in 2024 and I will be writing to the HSE to make them aware of this matter.”

The HSE has not yet issued a response to a query in respect of this story.