An out-of-hours GP co-operative for Co Galway will not be opened until next year. Ms Catherine Duffy, development officer with the primary care department of the Western Health Board, added that the board had hoped to start the new service in October.
Based on existing co-ops in the NorthEastern and South-Eastern Health Board areas, the Galway service means patients will have access to out-of-hours emergency medical care through a freephone number.
Initially the co-operative will cover Galway city and parts of east Galway and will extend to Oughterard and Maam Cross to the north-west. West Connemara will not be covered in the initial phase.
Dr John Casey, a GP in Clifden for 27 years, told The Irish Times that considerable progress had been made in recent meetings with the health board in dealing with the challenges posed by the sparselypopulated Connemara area.
"In particular we need to ensure adequate medical cover is provided for the elderly. They are a most vulnerable group who are least able to access medical care," he said. He also pointed out that the population trebled during the summer months and at Easter and Christmas due to the influx of visitors.
"Many of our visitors engage in adventure sports and horse-riding, which are potentially high-risk activities from a medical point of view." Ms Duffy said. The principle of equity of access to care would be adhered to, but the medical needs of people on the islands and in remote parts of Connemara required a special approach.