Fears grow in Mayo parish over potential loss of GP care

by Caoimhín Rowland

The community of Lahardane is fearful of losing its general practitioner.

It follows the HSE inviting applications for the position.

Dr. Enda Loftus has been serving the parish for the last three years.

Minister of State Dara Calleary has been in touch with the HSE and is awaiting a response.

"It's important to the community that there would be GP care available in Lahardane and I'll work with the HSE to ensure this happens," he added.

After the retirement of long-serving GP Dr. Paul Nolan, locals had been concerned over the lack of a permanent GP in the village in 2019, and hosted a public meeting on the issue.

Lahardane has become the third Mayo area where the HSE is currently advertising a vacancy for a general practitioner after Achill and Charlestown.