The closure of a GP practice with 14,000 patients in Co Fermanagh would be ‘disastrous’ for those in the area, one of its patients has said.
The future of the Maple Healthcare practice in Lisnaskea is in doubt after its operators said it would be handing the contract for the practice back to the Department of Health.
“Excessive stresses and intolerable pressures" on the practice have forced its partners to make the decision to hand back the contract, it emerged on Friday.
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The Department has said it will now begin a recruitment process to put new arrangements in place to deliver GP services in the area.
GP retirements have led to the closure of practices in neighbouring Roslea and Newtownbutler in recent years, with Maple taking on patients from those areas.
Tina McDermott from Newtownbutler said people in the area are fearful of what health services will be available to them, with significant concern over the future of services at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
“I’m a cancer survivor and because of treatment and hereditary conditions I’ve had to have jaw joints replaced and have had problems with my bones and joints,” Tina said.
“I rely on Maple Group practice very much. I’ve been with them now almost 40 years.
“When I went there first 40 years ago, the roof was leaking and it hasn’t been maintained since. It’s the same building with the same leaks.
“14,000 patients can’t go without GPs and we are starting to feel in Fermanagh like we are forgotten about.
“This is an extra worry for people and it’s going to make people really scared of what the future holds for them in Fermanagh.”
Tina added that although there had been issues around availability of doctors and facilities at the Maple practice in recent years, she said local people can’t do without them.
She added: “I have a three-week old grandson who developed quite a bad cough and mucus last Friday and his mum didn’t want to be seen as an overdramatic mother.
“She asked if someone could just have a look at him, and she was told no and that she should bring him to A&E.
“She knew he didn’t need to go to A&E but there wasn’t a nurse, doctor or anybody to have a look at a three week old baby. So he had to be brought and sat in A&E for hours to be seen there.
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“I’d agree that the practice is under pressure, and I can only hope the Department of Health will be able to step in and make sure we have GPs in all areas.
“Myself and my husband, our two kids and three grandkids are all patients of Maple Group. We need the services here and to not have them would be disastrous.
“We’re very dependent on them here and although it has been rocky the last few years, we can’t do without them.”
A statement from the managers of the Maple Healthcare said it understands the anxiety felt by local residents, but said it remained committed to the community in East Fermanagh.
“We would like to stress that this is likely to be a contractual change and transition which will release our doctors from administrative and business tasks resulting in more time to devote to patient care,” Maple said.
“We would like to clarify that rather than a “change in management” which was erroneously reported over the weekend, what we seek is a change in employment and contractor status.
“We hope that whatever agreement is reached with the Department, it will safeguard GP services within our community for the foreseeable future.
“We do not anticipate that the coming changes will diminish the range of clinical services provided in our locality. Furthermore, there is no reason why the exciting new Health and Care Centre planned for Lisnaskea will in any way be adversely affected.”
The managers of the group urged its patients to continue to use the practice as normal, and also said it was ‘disappointed’ information around its handing back of its contract was shared with the media before staff were informed.
“This transfer of ownership of the practice is likely take up to six months to complete and we urge patients to remain registered here until this process is completed as we intend to provide a seamless transfer to a new provider.
“We are very disappointed that confidential information about this situation has been shared with the press before we had the opportunity to speak with our staff privately. This has been extremely distressing for our staff.”
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