A leading GP is warning a shortage of locum doctors is resulting in more and more practices finding it impossible to get cover.
According to latest figures from the Irish Medical Organisation, 59% of GPs highlight the issue, while two thirds say they can't take sick leave because of it.
Just this week the Government has been urged to intervene to deal with GP shortages across North Cork with the lack of supply of GP's and locums knock on effect throughout the local community.
Speaking to RedFM News, Local Labour TD Sean Sherlock, says the issue needs to be urgently addressed:
"There is a supply issue at present in North Cork in particular, this seems to be nationwide as well. What I've been doing is pressing the government to give more attention to the fact that we need a true port of GPs to meet the demand that is there now from people for typical GP services, but also to ensure that there is a proper supply of locum GPs so that if a GP is not available, that there is a somebody there to fill in for them and take on their list."
