Some Blarney residents experiencing difficulties accessing GP home visits

A Cork TD has raised concerns about some residents of Blarney having issues accessing home visits through their GP.

Earlier this year, medical card holders and GP card holders in Blarney received letters informing them of the decision to move the GP service at Ashdale House in Blarney to Broadlane Family Practice in Blackpool after the HSE confirmed it had not been possible to arrange for a GMS GP service to be based in Blarney town following the resignation of Dr Una O’Halloran from the GMS Scheme on December 31 last year.

A spokesperson for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) said at that time that the HSE remained committed to providing a GMS service to the residents of the Blarney area and appreciated that this relocation would present a challenge for some GMS cardholders.

The spokesperson made assurances that where there is a clinical need, there will be “no difficulty in undertaking a home visit within this location”.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould has said however that there are some residents of Blarney who are having difficulty accessing home visits.

“I’ve contacted the HSE as people have informed me that they are having issues accessing home visits,” he said.

“This was a commitment given when GP services were reallocated to Blackpool from Blarney.

I spoke to one gentleman who has given elderly people lifts as they don’t drive and otherwise couldn’t access their GP service.

Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for CKCH said: “Cork Kerry Community Healthcare held a recruitment campaign earlier this year to fill the General Medical Services Scheme (medical card) position in Blarney.

“Despite the recruitment of a GP to provide a service to medical card holders, it was unfortunately not possible to arrange for this service to be based in the Blarney area. However, the GP providing the service is based a short distance from Blarney. Where there is a clinical need, there is no difficulty in the GP undertaking a home visit.

“The decision to take a home visit is made by the GP, depending on the clinical circumstances presenting. Clinical safety is the top priority for the HSE and for GPs.

“In all cases, there are rigorous triage and prioritisation processes in place to ensure that patients with the greatest clinical need receive timely care. In some instances, a telehealth or in-clinic appointment may be offered instead of a home visit.” 

The spokesperson said the HSE values feedback from patients and people using its services and encouraged anyone with a concern about the service they receive to provide feedback.

Medical card holders in Cork and Kerry who wish to give feedback about their GP service can write to the Primary Care Unit, Floor 3 Block 15, St Finbarrs Hospital Campus, Douglas Road Cork T12 XH60.