Serious concerns have been raised with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly over the lack of GP service in Churchill.
The village health centre has not had any regular visits from a GP for the past 18 months, and elderly residents have been hugely impacted by the disruption.
Letterkenny-Milford Mayor Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly has written to the Minister calling for the vital service to be restored.
Cllr Kelly told Donegal Daily that he has been contacted by numerous residents on the issue.
“Elderly people are facing difficulty travelling to their nearest GP in Letterkenny town, and they have told me that when they ring the Medical Centre in Letterkenny they find it difficult to get receptionists to answer the phone,” Cllr Kelly said.
“It is vitally important that Churchill does not lose this service for good. This rural village has already lost their Garda station and their Post office.”
Healthcare staff continue to work from the health centre, but Cllr Kelly has urged Minister Donnelly to do all he can to secure a GP to visit the Churchhill centre at least twice or three times a week, as was the case for decades.
Cllr Kelly said he also wrote to the Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler, who has responded to say she will raise the matter with the Health Minister.
Cllr Kelly added: “I will be liaising with my colleague Cllr Ciaran Brogan, who sits on the committee of the Regional Health Forum, and I have put the request through Minister Charlie McConalogue’s office also to apply extra pressure on the matter.”
