A Tipperary doctor says he and many of his colleagues are considering their future in the profession.
The shortage of doctors is a major problem not just in Tipperary but across the country with GPs retiring and no one to replace them while there is also a major shortage of locums willing to fill in particularly for rural practices.
Killenaule based Dr Liam Meagher was scheduled to take two weeks off from yesterday – however at the last minute he got word that the locum cover booked for the practice wasn’t going to turn up.
While he was able to arrange someone to fill for a few days Dr Meagher says such uncertainty isn’t sustainable.
Primary Care is seen as one of the best ways of tackling the crisis in the health system.
However speaking on Tipp Today earlier Dr Meagher said the HSE doesn’t seem to value the contribution of GPs on the ground.
