Vol. 395 No. 3
164 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no replacement doctor has been appointed to the Louisburgh area of County Mayo; the reason for such a decision; and, in view of the geographical area and the number of elderly people involved, if he will sanction such an appointment immediately.
I have been advised by the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board that two medical practitioners provided general medical services to eligible patients in the area in question up to recently, when one of the doctors retired. The board then reviewed the composition of both doctors' patient panels including the age profile, the geographical distribution of patients and the viability of the two general medical services practices in the area. Following this review the board decided, after consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation, that the appointment of a second doctor to the area was not required.
