The Dublin area with a growing population of 11,335 … but little or no access to a GP

Irish Independent

7 days ago

The third edition of the Health Assets and Needs Assessment (HANA) Project, from Trinity College Dublin, was presented at a recent meeting of South Dublin County Council.
The findings highlight how healthcare has changed in Tallaght over the last 30 years, and in areas perceived to suffer more from 'deprivation', the symptoms associated with ageing are worse.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Fettercairn, where a growing population of 11,335 (according to census 2022) complain that they have little or no access to a local GP.
Elizabeth Ruane (76) moved to Fettercairn from Ballymun 44 years ago, and is a member of the senior women's club organised by the Tallaght Community Health Project.
'We've always had to travel for a GP. We used to have one years and years ago but now we have to go to Killinarden,' she said.
'I'd have to get the bus down to the end of the road, which takes about 25 to 30 minutes and walk for 20 minutes from there.
'We were promised a GP when Fettercairn got its first Community Centre – the people of this community raised money to build it. We were told there would be a GP upstairs, but it just never happened.
'When you're younger, you think it's okay and you can just get the bus. But when you're older, even something that seems simple can make your life so difficult.'
Ms Ruane currently visits a GP service a few miles away from her home in Fettercairn.
'I've a new doctor now who's very helpful. I had a spot on my leg that was worrying me. He thought it might have been cancerous and fixed it; then referred me to Tallaght hospital for further care. That was in April, I've never heard back.
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'I'm afraid to get sick, because I know I won't be able to see the doctor. I've figured out that when you get to a certain age, they're not interested. They let you stay at the end of the list because they don't care about us,' she added.
Professor Catherine Darker, who authored the Trinity College study, has observed that chronic illnesses, including heart issues, diabetes and neurological diseases, are high among the people of Tallaght.
'We already have data to show that the way different diseases burden ageing groups, differs depending on the community you live in. The most rapidly growing age group in Tallaght is over-65,' Ms Darker said.
'Health is not equally distributed here, so you could have more affluent parts of the city where an age group is doing well globally, but the same groups in social and economically deprived areas will age differently.
'For people who are poor, the poverty automatically means that you have worse health,' she added.
A spokesperson for the HSE said it has 39 GPs in the wider Dublin 24 area working from 20 different practices, including within the Fettercairn area.
'The HSE can confirm it does not limit the number of GPs who wish to take on a General Medical Services contract with the HSE in a specific location.
'GPs are self-employed and have the ability to set up a practice in any area they choose, depending on various factors.'
Brookfield Health Centre in Jobstown is the clinic located closest to Fettercairn, but multiple calls to check on appointment availability last week went unanswered.
Kay Hoban (74), another member of the women's group, says what's harder than the lack of access, is the time it takes to make it through a waiting list.
'It takes at least two weeks to hear back from the GP if you call them. They never answer – people over 60 have to walk to the GP's office to even make an appointment,' she said.
'I always wonder what would happen if you're really sick. At our age that's a real worry.
'If you go to the emergency [department], you're left waiting over 36 hours, and they wouldn't have my history anyway. If you don't have private insurance, you have no chance of finding help.'
Independent councillor for Tallaght-Central, Mick Duff, wonders why a part of Dublin with a growing population is struggling to attract a GP.
'It's reprehensible in 2025 that we don't have a GP physically present in Fettercairn,' he said.
'I know there are services in the surrounding area like the Mary Mercer Health Centre and there are doctors and GPs in nearby Springfield.
'The people of Fettercairn deserve a GP in their own area and I don't know what it's going to take to attract a GP. It's quite an established estate, it has an older generation and now a very vibrant young generation.
'There's a great healthcare committee in the community centre, an addiction centre with a GP attending, but there isn't one for general medical issues.
'I hope the county council can support and encourage some young GPs to come in and open their services in the area.
'Fettercairn is not a million miles from Tallaght Hospital, but people should not be reliant on outpatient or emergency care.
'There are older people and people with disabilities who cannot get out of the area as easily as others,' he added.
Mary Kelly (77), who has lived in Fettercairn for 45 years, remembers being a young mother in the area struggling for medical care.
'Not much has changed. Having no GPs nearby is a big problem. It was definitely worse when my children were younger,' she said.
'We've been fighting for a GP in Fettercairn for years, but nothing's changed. I have to go to Brookfield to get to mine. It's just 10 minutes for me by car, but not everyone has that luxury.'
The HANA report has also found that older people in Tallaght struggle with loneliness. The Tallaght Community Health Project has worked with older people to support them through it.
Project coordinator, Samantha Griffin, works closely with locals to encourage arts and crafts, field trips and theatre shows to help build a sense of community.
'For some of the people that engage in the women's club or our other initiatives, this might be the only time in the week that they even see other people,' she said.
'Covid made people feel more isolated than ever before. But initiatives like this can make a world of difference.'
Mary Malone (75), who has lived in Fettercairn her entire life, has found the club to be the best way to stay in touch with friends.
'I knew a lot of these women before I joined, some of us are neighbours,' she said.
'I love doing the arts and crafts, you can talk and work away at the same time. It's a way of taking care of our health on our own.'
Kay Hoban said having a sense of community has helped her take care of herself.
'I've been coming here for the last two years. I was recommended by a doctor to do exercises because of my arthritis. I heard about the Monday evening group and joined. I've now found a family,' she said.
'I've been a widow for 51 years. The club has helped older people in the area a lot. We're not seeing people during the week.
'If you don't come up here, I go days without seeing anyone. So for me, spending time with these women is a great outlet.'