There’s been a 639% increase in the number of children in Co Monaghan who have been assigned to GP waiting lists following HSE interventions – the largest increase nationwide.
There’s also been a 600% increase in Co Roscommon in the five-year period between 2017 and the week ending December 24th, in 2021.
The HSE figures come on foot of a parliamentary question from Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy.
Deputy Murphy asked for the number of children allocated to GPs following a refusal of three GPs to register them.
In Co Monaghan, this figure rose from 33 in 2017 to 244 in the week ending December 24th, 2021 – a 639% increase.
Co Rosommon ranked second nationwide, with the figure rising from ten in 2017 to 70 in 2021, an increase of 600%.
Meanwhile, Co Cavan ranked below the national average of a 170% increase.
The numbers of children on waiting lists following three refusals rose from 19 in 2017 to 32 in the week ending December 24th last.
In response, the HSE pointed to a “notable increase in 2020 and 2021”, much of which it says can be “directly linked to the ongoing pandemic”.
The HSE cited factors such as the “migration of population from cities due to remote working” and “difficulty in obtaining access to GPs due to restrictions”.
It added that “where individuals are unable to identify a GP and have received three refusals, the HSE provides additional assistance to the individual”.
