There is now a real risk that large parts of rural Ireland will be left without any GP services, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned.

According to the IMO, many GPs currently working in rural Ireland are older and are either retiring or dying, and fewer younger doctors are willing to work in these areas to replace them.

This is already a major issue in certain areas, particularly along the western seaboard, and means that some patients are having to travel long distances to see a doctor.

In an attempt to tackle this, the IMO has launched a new campaign aimed at highlighting this problem and encouraging younger GPs to work in these areas.

"Communities in rural Ireland are being stripped of the key supports that make them viable and the loss of GP services in an area could have catastrophic consequences for people in that area. This isn't just a campaign about GP services. This is a campaign about the plight of rural Ireland," commented chairman of the IMO's GP Committee, Dr Padraid McGarry.

The IMO has prepared a policy paper on this issue and it identifies a number of key issues facing rural GPs, including:

-As a larger proportion of the patient population in rural areas tend to be elderly, this leads to ‘more complex and intensive patient engagements' and more house calls compared to urban areas
-The patient population tends to be more dispersed leading to more travel for doctors and patients
-Out of hours services may not be adequate
-There can be difficulties findings locum staff when GPs are on annual leave.

The IMO has made a number of proposals to tackle this issue, including:

-Immediate investment to stabilise the current situation and then a ring-fenced budget over the next two to three years, which would make rural practices an option for younger GPs.
-An increased rural practice allowance for rural GP surgeries to support the financial viability of the service
-The introduction of a Patient Location Allowance, which would result in an increased fee for GPs who make house calls further away from their surgery.
-A review of out of hours services
-Additional practice nurse and secretary supports should be made available.

The IMO is calling on the Government to consider these suggestions so that younger GPs will be encouraged to apply for positions in rural Ireland.