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Restrictions on travel from South Africa will impact on Kerry’s GP out-of-hours services

Jan 27, 2021 13:15 By radiokerrynews
Restrictions on travel from South Africa will impact on Kerry’s GP out-of-hours services
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Restrictions on travel from South Africa will have an impact on GP out-of-hours services in Kerry. That’s the view of GP Dr

Restrictions on travel from South Africa will have an impact on GP out-of-hours services in Kerry.

That’s the view of GP Dr Peadar Ó Fionnáin, the Green Party representative for Dingle.

He says our out-of-hours GP services are heavily dependent on South African doctors, who are keeping primary care services afloat particularly in rural areas.

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The current immigration rules oblige foreign locum doctors to leave the State every 90 days for one month before re-entry; doctors from South Africa usually return home for this period.

Dr Ó Fionnáin has written to Green Party leader Minister Eamon Ryan to highlight the consequences of mandatory quarantine for these doctors.

The GP says a system needs to be devised to allow South African doctors to stay here:

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Dr Peadar Ó Fionnáin has been in contact with the Department of Justice on the matter.

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He says the department assured him they are to delay the visa restriction until April; this will allow South African doctors to stay here if they have a valid visa.

 

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