GP appointed for Dunkineely - but patients still have to travel to Glenties

There will be much relief among residents of Dunkineely and Bruckless at news that a GP has been secured.

However, the wait is not yet over as it will be into the new year before the new doctor will be in place.

Dunkineely Health Centre has been without a GP since mid-November when Dr Charles McManus left to take up a role in a Glenties practice. Patients were advised at the time that they would be cared for in the Glenties practice until a replacement was found.

This has been proving difficult given the difficulty in travelling to Glenties via public transport. A number of patients have been finding it difficult to even get through to the Glenties practice on the telephone. And those who tried to register with a GP in Killybegs or Donegal Town were told that new patients were not being taken on by those practices.

The HSE announced on Wednesday that a GP had been recruited.

A spokesperson said: "This is really good news for the area at a time when GP recruitment is proving extremely difficult across the country.

"We are now progressing through the contract process with the new doctor expected to be in place early in the new year.

"Until we have concluded that process the interim arrangements in place for Dunkineely will continue. Dr Charles Mc Manus is providing cover for *GMS patients from the Health Centre in Glenties. Please note that if you need to visit the GP you should call 074 9557811 to make an appointment."

Cllr Noel Jordan (SF), who brought the matter to public attention said: "This is very good news for Dunkineely.

"I want to commend people who have raised the issue with us and had organised a public meeting for Friday in order to keep the issue to the fore.

“The permanent GP will be in post early in the new year and, although unfortunately there will still be some issues for people in the meantime, the fact that Dunkineely will retain a permanent GP in the area has to be considered a huge positive.”

Deputy Pearse Doherty TD said the news would be a relief to the local community "who were rightly annoyed by the removal of GP services from the area."

“We raised this issue with the HSE and the Minister for Health and now welcome confirmation that a replacement GP has been found."

Deputy Joe McHugh (FG) also welcomed the announcement.

"This is really good news after a period of worry for so many families," he said.

Deputy McHugh thanked Dr Charles McManus for continued cover for GMS patients, as well as Mandy and all in the HSE, and Cllr Barry Sweeny.

*GMS stands for General Medical Services, and applies to the patients with a Medical Card or GP Visit Card.