A study in England on distances to GP services access has laid bare the disparity between NHS patients living on both sides of the Irish Sea.
GP hits out at system stopping doctors coming home
WITH local GP services at breaking point, a local doctor has hit out at the systemic restrictions putting GPs off coming home to practise. In recent years the situation with GP cover in rural parts of the county has become increasingly precarious, with doctors retiring and resigning but no doctors available to replace them. However, there […]
Fermanagh sees biggest decrease in GP services in North
According to the statistical report, there are 15.3 practices per 100,000 population in the Fermanagh and Omagh area.
Murphy says Maple Health Centre new build is still the ‘main priority’
FERMANAGH MLA Áine Murphy has welcomed the announcement of a £5.5 million boost as a first step to improving people’s access to GP services. Speaking in relation to the announcement, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA told the Herald, “The announcement by the Health Minister of an extra £5.5 million to help improve people’s access […]
Maple Healthcare staff open up on surgery ‘challenges’
STAFF at Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea have spoken about the “challenges” that GP surgeries are continuing to face in response to concerns raised by patients in recent months. While Maple Healthcare patents have continually complained about the difficulty they’ve experienced in reaching a doctor through the new telephone consultation system in place since the outbreak […]
Some cancer patients wait two months for treatment
BARELY more than half of Fermanagh patients are beginning their cancer treatment within two months of being given an urgent referral by their GP. Meanwhile, the number of suspected breast cancer patients within the Western trust who were seen within 14 days of a referral has plummeted over the past year, according to the latest […]
Maple Healthcare agree meeting to alleviate patients concerns
STAFF AT Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea have agreed to meet local councillors to determine if any “positive changes” can be made in relation to patients’ concerns over not being able to arrange an appointment with their GP. A statement issued to the Herald said the practice, representatives from the Health and Social Care Board and […]
Calls for enquiry as health waiting lists grow again
WITH doctors warning that pressure on GP services and emergency departments is being exacerbated by the number of patients languishing on ever growing waiting lists, the latest statistics from the Department of Health make grim reading. There are currently tens of thousands of local patients waiting either out patient or in patient treatment, and the […]
GPs may never return to full face-to-face service – BMA
“We’ve never worked so hard yet still find ourselves in a position of needing to defend ourselves.”
Patients ‘frustrated by lack of access to doctors’
FERMANAGH patients are becoming increasingly frustrated at not being able to access their GPs as easily as before the pandemic, however one local doctor has claimed patients now have greater access than ever. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, GP surgeries have stopped all ‘walk in’ services in a bid to reduce footfall at surgeries. […]