NEWS that a consortium of local doctors is to take over Ederney surgery, through a model that could be used to save other local rural practices, has been widely welcomed locally.
Last week fears were raised for the future of the surgery, which has 1,500 patients on its books, after it was revealed no GP had been found to replace Dr Ronan Harte, who is leaving to take up a new post.
The practice, which has a 17-mile radius, was set to close if no replacement for Dr Harte could be found by the end of March. However, on Friday it was revealed a group of local doctors had formed a group that will help secure the surgery’s future.
Dr Brendan O’Hare, who hails from Enniskillen and run the Castlederg Group Surgery, is leading the new, as yet un-named group who have also helped save Newtownstewart surgery.
“We have now formed an umbrella group and we have amalgamated with the Newtownstewart practice, and on April 1 we will be taking over Ederney,” he said. “It means we will be able to provide a full range of services.”
Dr O’Hare added: “Running small and rural practices, particularly in the west, has become a real challenge. All small rural surgeries are under threat. We believe this model could be a blueprint for the way forward for rural practices. It’s a solution to the problem.”
Dr O’Hare said the group had recruited two young GPs, including Dr Fiona Murphy from Tempo. As such, Dr Murphy will be in residence at the surgery on Mondays, Dr Stewart, who is an older male doctor, will be there on Tuesdays, Dr O’Hare will be in the surgery on Wednesdays, while another female GP, Dr King from Lack, will be there on Thursdays and Fridays.
Dr Murphy explained that, for a young GP, joining a larger group was ideal compared to running their own small practice as it meant they could concentrate on medicine rather than the bureaucratic and business side of things.
“I think it’s great, especially for someone like me, who is a female GP with a young family,” said the 34-year-old former Mount Lourdes pupil who returned home to Fermanagh last year after moving to Sydney shortly after qualifying. “Being part of a bigger practice gives bigger scope to work with. It means there is a depth of experience on hand, and because everyone has their own specialities too which means we can run specialist clinics too.”
Fermanagh branch secretary of Unison, Jill Weir, welcomed Dr O’Hare’s assurance that all staff would retain their positions and said First Minister Arlene Foster had also contacted her on the issue, explaining staff would transferred to the new group on their current terms and conditions.
“The staff are delighted to hear it, it’s just about finalising the details now,” said Ms Weir. “This is good for all involved because Castlederg surgery has an excellent reputation.”
A spokesman for the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) confirmed on Monday that negotiations were taking place with Castlederg Group Surgery to take over the contract to provide services at Ederney Surgery from April 1, and would inform the public when arrangements had been agreed.
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