'Looming manpower crisis' highlighted as Ardara doctor resigns

There are fears over the future of general practition services at the Ardara Health Centre following the resignation of Dr Mireille Sweeney.

Dr Sweeney has handed her notice into the HSE after 29 years as the GP in Ardara.

Dr Sweeney highlighted the “looming manpower crisis” and said the increased demands of various roles have seen 11 people turn down positions.

The matter, she said, is now in the hands of the HSE.

“In the past five years there have been two occasions when I found I just could not continue without having a period away from work for my own well-being,” Dr Sweeney said.

“On these occasions it was left to me to provide my own cover. I relied on agency locum doctors to run the practice.

“This is a short-term solution to the problem and was found unsustainable for the practice.”

Having exhausted all possible avenues to secure a successor, Dr Sweeney informed the HSE of her decision, one she made “with a heavy heart”.

Dr Sweeney said: “For years I have highlighted to the HSE the looming manpower crisis that single handed rural GPs are facing, while also proposing practical solutions to these problems.

“Schemes introduced in recent years by the HSE aimed at improving patient care although highly successful have put huge additional demands on any single-handed GP practice.

“In the past two years at Ardara Health Centre the post of GP Assistant, GP Partner and my post as Principal GP has been offered to 11 individuals (nationally and internationally), all showing genuine interest in the practice but unwilling to accept the demands of a single-handed Rural GP practice.”

Dr Sweeney has paid tribute to the various people she has worked with, her family for the support over the years and the many patients she has cared for.

“Myself and my staff at Ardara Health Centre have no information on the procedure for appointing a new GP for Ardara,” she added.