Sinn Féin's policies can solve the GP shortage caused by "decades of a hands-off government approach."
That's according to Cavan-Monaghan TD Cathy Bennett in response to information provided to her by the HSE.
The information revealed that the GP shortage across the state is worse in both Cavan and Monaghan.
While there are around 7.4 GPs per 10,000 of population across the state, in both Cavan and Monaghan it is just 4.3 per 10,000.
Deputy Bennett has called for "urgent intervention" to address this crisis and improve local services.
She says there is a very real and serious crisis on the horizon because of the aging profile of our GPs, and a hands-off approach from the government.
Deputy Bennett continued; "The lack of any serious planning by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for developing primary care services is typical of these parties who, whether it is healthcare or housing, expect problems to sort themselves out without government intervention. A new GP contract, including a public-only contract, as well as significant reforms to primary care staffing, home care, and community pharmacy are needed to stave off a collapse in GP services in rural areas.
"But the clearest parts of the problem is the fact that government simply have not been training enough GPs and that many GPs today simply do not want to run a business or find it too challenging to operate a commercial practice in rural settings.
"The practice model has served people well over many years, but where there are gaps the solution is straightforward - government need to step in where there are blackspots and offer a public GP contract. This would give new GPs a choice between starting a practice, working for an existing practice, or taking on a public contract."
