Concern has been raised over the lack of medical clinics with staff in South Inishowen with the HSE pulling doctors from Fahan and Muff in recent weeks leaving residents with a €30 taxi fare to the nearest practice.
The two practices have been left without a doctor for over four weeks and it is understood that the current situation will remain the same until next month at least.
Inishowen councillor Martin Farren, speaking to Donegal Daily, said a similar situation arose several years ago.
The Moville native has called for the HSE to provide clarity surrounding the ‘outrageous’ uncertainty for the people in the area.
He said: “I think it’s absolutely disgraceful that the people of Muff are being treated this way by the HSE.
“I would feel the HSE need to get their act together and appoint a doctor to be present at the clinic to deal with peoples medical problems.
“To expect patients to travel to Buncrana is totally outrageous and we are actually talking about a 20-mile round trip and if an elderly person has to pay a taxi to get there it is extremely expensive.
“In this day and age, this is totally unacceptable to the people of Inishowen and especially the people of Muff and Fahan.
“The clinic was put there for a reason,” he added. “The clinic was put there to deal with patients in those areas and so there is an onus on the HSE to sort this out.
“This uncertainty that has been given by the HSE, with resident left without a doctor for the past four weeks, is absolutely crazy.
“There has to be a timetable put in place so that people know that the doctor is going to be there on a weekly basis to treat the patients,” Farren said.
“One of the most important things to people, whether that is families, young people or residents in general, is their health and that needs to be prioritised.”