Roscommon Galway Independent election candidate Denis Naughten has welcomed the decision by Westdoc to stop Roscommon Town based doctors travelling 70km to cover the Loughrea and Craughwell areas of Co. Galway.
As a direct result of the objections raised by Denis Naughten, the out of hours GP service has decided to leave the Roscommon Town based doctor, who provides cover from midnight to 8 am, covering just the local area rather than a large part of South Galway as well.
“For the last 3 months the GP based in Roscommon Town was also responding to calls over 70km away on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays nights,” explained Denis Naughten. “Without my direct intervention in this matter, Westdoc was planning to have the Roscommon Town based doctor cover the Loughrea/Craughwell area seven nights a week.
“This action shows just how important it is to watch over how the health service is operating on an ongoing basis. Just as we get our GP service back, our ambulance service is now being downgraded with the transfer of one Roscommon Town based ambulance to cover the East Mayo/West Roscommon area on a part-time basis.
“Dáil Éireann needs a local TD who is prepared to keep the HSE in check and ensure that our health services are developed and enhanced, not further downgraded,” added Denis Naughten.