IT'S pickets and protests at the doors of the Health Seriice Executive in Galway unless a Westdoc plan for emergency weekend doctors services is withdrawn in west Connemara.

That was the warning from a crowded public meeting in Cill Chiaráin cummunitv hall on Monday night.

And as the controversy deepens anuther public meeting takes place in Tir an Fhia. close to Leitir Móir this Thursdav night.

The controversy in West Connemara has erupted following news that the WestDoc service is to be deployed on 10 weekends durine the year in the areas west of Maam Cross and west of Derrynea.

One ductor would be on duty in the arca frum Lettermullen throughc Lettermore and Carraroe and further west into Camus, Ros Muc, CIII Chiaráin, Carna and north to Cashel from Friday evenings until Monday morning.

People at the CIII Chiaráin meeting said that the proposed service under the umbrella of WestDoc would see people who fell ill, or who were injured, in added danger because of the geography of the aiea.

It s 50 miles along the main from one end of the area to the other and there are manv isolated townlands along the wav. It was also pointed out at the meeting that many parts of the area in question is 50 miles away from the nearest acute Hospital - meaning that the local doctor is essentially the A/E unit for these West Connemara communities.

In a press statement issued by the HSE on the evening of the Ciii Chiaráin meeting it was stated that "a number of GPs from North and South Connemara have recently expressed an interest in joining Westdoc" GPs from the Clifden, Roundstone, Carna, Ros Muc, Lettermore and Carrarue areas attended a meeting according to the statement from the HSE and a "written expression of interest was received from Renvvle."

It is understood that the plan in the South Connemara area is to locate a jeep and driver in Ros Muc. Calls would be dealt with by a nurse and if he she decided it was necessary, the doctor would be sent out. It is understood that the new svstem is to start in June.

Trevor Ó Ciochartaigh from the Carraroe Communitv Council said at the Cill Chiaráin meeting that the HSE is "very good at writing statements". He said he knew his own doctor was against any type of Westdoc service that covered a widespread countryside single handed.

"I would fear that there was pressure on doctors to become involved in this system", Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said.

"If there were enough resources doctors could be given time off and the communitv could get a proper service as well."

Bernadette Ní Shúilleabháin. Nurse Manager of the Cara Nursing Home - 52 bed facility - said she was very concerned about the system being proposed.

"We need at least two doctors on dutv in such a large area". she said. Ms Ní Shúilleabháin said that the best way would be for the doctors to deal with calls and not have a nurse taking calls and making decisions.

She said that as these limited services come in thev will never be removed and that the danger is that they will be extended.

The chairman at the public meeting, Seosamh Ó Cuaig said that local committees had messages of support from several politicians.

Thev included Noel Grealish. T.D.. Pádraig McCormack. T.D.. Councillor Josie Conneely and MEP Seán Ó Neachtain who had called that evening from Europe to express his concern about the proposed doctors arrangements in South Connemara.

However in a letter read out at the meeting. the Minister for Communitv. Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon Ó Cuív stated that he would be satisfied with the svstem being arranged bv Westdoc if the local doctors in Connemara are happy with it.

Two Connemara County Counciliors attendcd the meeting - Connie Ní Fhátharta and Sean Ó Tuairisg.

Both expresscd serious conccrns about what was bcbg propuscd. Councillor Ó Tuairisc said he could not agree with any suggestion that one doctor would be enough in the area from Lettermullen west to Carna and Cashel.

"Unfortunatly, I have heard serious accounts of things that hase taken place under the Westdoc System - including an incident in Joyce Country," Councillor Ó Tuairisc said.

Cauncilier Ní Fhátharta said that every effort must be made te keep the present level of emercency doctor cover in South Connemara.

Meetineg Chairman. Cauncillar Seosamh Ó Cuaig said that the communitv must come first. "The doctors need adequate time off and the connunity cannat accept a reductian in services. Money is needed to bridge that gap so that extra doctars can be put an duty." he said.

A deputation cf people from all the communities along the south Connemara coastline was selected to meet the HSE and Coencillor Catherine Connally - a member of the HSE West Forum - who was present in Cill Chiaráin is to arrange that meeting.

In a Raidió na Gaeltachta interview, Westdec manager, Siobhán O Sullivan said that €70,000 had been granted for the Connemara service.

When asked what her reaction was ta meeting a deputation from Connemara she said that the arrangements had been made with the local doctars and that issues abaut their services related to them.

Mairtín Ó Catháin - Cúradh Connachtach 25/4/2008

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