The closure of Rosslea GP surgery two weeks ago has been met with “anger” and “resentment” by the community.

Locals view the situation – which has seen Maple Group Practice in Lisnaskea taking over 1,400 patients registered in Rosslea,1,900 patients at Newtownbutler and 2,200 patients at Dr. Leary’s former practice at Lisnaskea – as the latest in a long line of services being removed from the Border village.

READ: GP crisis Fermanagh: Lisnaskea Health Centre to take on extra 3,000 patients

Rosslea recently lost its Ulster Bank sub-office, its post office was moved into the local shop and its bus services has been reduced to one bus per day to Enniskillen at 7.35am. St. Eugene’s College will close in June because it is amalgamating with St. Comhghall’s College in Lisnaskea.

“It makes you wonder: ‘What’s next?” commented councillor Brian McCaffrey, who lives in the village.

Not one GP from Ireland or the UK applied for the position of single-handed GP to take on the General Medical Services contract for Rosslea Surgery. The position has been vacant since Dr. Collins retired in June 2016. GPs from Western Rural Healthcare provided locum cover throughout the months of July and August 2016 and GPs from Maple Group Practice provided locum cover from September 2016. The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) offered potential candidates “the opportunity to provide traditional medical care to a community while establishing a good work/ life balance in the ‘lake district’ of Northern Ireland [which] is best known for its lakes, angling, cruising and watersports.”

When nobody applied, the HSCB say it had no option but to engage in extensive negotiations with Maple Group Practice who agreed to take on the care of all patients from Rosslea Surgery, Dr Leary’s Surgery and Dr Devlin’s Practice in Newtownbutler (Dr. Devlin retired this month). A spokeswoman said: “In order to provide a safe, comprehensive and quality General Medical Service to all patients, given their current staffing resources, it is only possible for Maple Group to operate from two sites – Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler. As independent contractors, GPs are responsible for appointing GPs to their GP team. Maple Group are working hard to continue to recruit additional GPs to build the sustainability of their service. This is ongoing.”
Approximately 300 people attended a public meeting in Rosslea last Thursday which was addressed by Dr. Sloan Harper, Director of Integrated Care for the HSCB.

Locals voiced their frustration at having to travel to Lisnaskea and the difficulties this would cause for people without access to a car. They also voiced concern at the length of time it takes to get through to make an appointment at Lisnaskea Health Centre, which now has 14,444 patients on its books, and the length of time it will take to see a doctor at the practice.

In response to concerns raised at the meeting, a HSCB spokeswoman was keen to highlight that the vacant role is for a GP, who, “as an independent contractor, who would run the business on their own or in partnership with others.” She added: “These GPs are responsible for running the business affairs of the practice, providing adequate premises and infrastructure to provide safe patient services and employ and train practice staff. These GPs are self-employed independent contractors who are owners of the practice and take an active role in the strategic development of the practice as an independent business.” The trend across the UK is that young GPs view full-time clinical work, along with the responsibility of running a practice and employing staff, as a less attractive career choice. This year it was announced that there will be an increase in GP training places from 65 to 111 by 2019.
The spokeswoman said that a site has not yet been purchased for the new Healthcare Hub in Lisnaskea, which was first announced by former Health Minister Michael McGimpsey in 2008.

WHAT FUTURE FOR ROSSLEA?
The Impartial Reporter visited Rosslea this week and spoke to locals about how they view the future of the small village, close to the border with County Monaghan.

 

James Connolly: owner of JFC Distribution
A wholesaler of confectionery and snacks, James Connolly is based at Rosslea Enterprise Centre and currently employs 30 people, 10 of whom he has taken on since January. Mr. Connolly plans to have created 40 new jobs by the end of 2017 through the manufacturing of a new range of healthy crackers. Most of his employees are from the surrounding area. The Rosslea native will stay in the village “unless we’re pushed out”.
“As a businessman, I don’t see why a GP can’t be incentivised to come to Rosslea. If I am having trouble finding a candidate for a position in my company, I offer a better salary and open up the market,” he stated.
“There is a lot of anger in the community about the closure of the GP surgery, which we only found out about in a letter the week before it closed. I find it very hard to believe that not one GP in the whole of Ireland or the UK wants to come here. The HSCB said it was not about money, but it is definitely about money. They say GPs don’t want to work a full week or they don’t want to travel. I’m sure they will travel if they are incentivised properly.
“There would have been about 50 people each day calling at the surgery. They would have got their hair done, picked up their prescriptions, bought their groceries etc. That will all go to Lisnaskea now. If the pharmacy can stay open here, fair play to them. Why would people from Aghadrumsee or other surrounding areas drive to Rosslea, when they can do everything in Lisnaskea on the day of their GP appointment?
“The closure of the GP surgery will have a knock-on effect on every business in the town.
“The school closure will mean that the whole buzz around the town will die.
“What’s left in this town?” 

 

Seamus Carolan: Manager of Rosslea Enterprise Centre and former Principal of St. Eugene’s College
“Rosslea is a great place to live. We’ve got a lovely primary school (St. Tierney’s), scenic walks in Spring Grove Forest, friendly people, a great cross-community spirit, a number of local artists and determined business people – all of the units at Rosslea Enterprise Centre are occupied.
“However, it is virtually dead at the moment.
“The closure of the GP surgery left the local community aghast. We are setting up a local committee to drive this issue forward.
“It’s time to prioritise and incentivise the appointment of a GP to Rosslea.”
Appealing for investment in the roads around Rosslea, Mr. Carolan said that articulated lorries travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the West, consistently “chug” through Rosslea and consequently put people off visiting the town.
He spent 32 years as teacher, vice-principal and principal in St. Eugene’s, before retiring in 2000. “I feel that the closure of St. Eugene’s is a severe setback in conjunction with all the other closures. The school was thriving at one point. The closure of the school removes the credibility of this place,” he said.
“The enterprise centre is in the process of converting the old Sliabh Beagh office space into an arts studio with rental spaces for 15 artists.
“As Brexit approaches, we will be on the lookout for investment and funding opportunities for this picturesque little village.
“It’s not all doom and gloom. Rosslea is looking to the future with optimism especially after the public meeting last Thursday, where the passion for the area was demonstrated by the cross community attendance.”

 

Kevin Boyle: Chairman of Roslea Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club and teacher at St. Eugene’s College
“The feeling here is that we can’t afford to let [the surgery closure] happen; the decision will particularly effect the elderly and people with young families.
“I would be apprehensive about where this could snowball to. The danger is that it would lead to a further drainage of families from the area. If a young family have left the area, there’s nothing for them to come back to.
“Thankfully, the GAA club is here for the community if they want to take part. We have 45 young people here on an Easter camp.
“Demographically we have fewer numbers of players available to us than we did 20 years ago. We have lost some good players to Belfast and Dublin. If they had been on the doorstep, it would have been easier for them to commit. We are probably going to be hit in terms of our success because of that. Our under 16 and under 18 teams have amalgamated with Aghadrumsee to form St. Gerards – that’s a worrying aspect going forward.
“But on a club development front, we can’t afford to stand still. We have just made a £360,000 investment in a new pitch – we want to make our club attractive to our youth.”

 

Brian McCaffrey: Sinn Féin Councillor
“There are good news stories as well as the negatives. When you remember how they closed the roads and set up check points you realise that we’ve had 40 years of learning to be resilient.
“Within the community there’s a resentment about how we have been treated.”
Councillor McCaffrey and fellow Erne East Councillors Victor Warrington (UUP), Paul Robinson (DUP) and Garbhan McPhillips (SDLP) met the HSCB last week and “put across that this is not acceptable.” They also pointed out that the Council has to carry out an Equality Impact Assessments and rural needs analysis on all of its decisions.
“They advertised the post in Ireland and the UK. Europe did deserve to have some form of advertisement,” he said.
“In spite of what we’ve been told by the HSCB and Maple Group, the vast majority of people in this community have not given up on the possibility of retaining a surgery in the village.”
He added: “You do wonder: ‘What’s next?’”
Highlighting the positives, he said: “There are a number of businesses doing well in the area, the GAA and Derrygannon Community Association are strong and there are people who are prepared to push to retain what we have.”

Nadine Armstrong: Manager of McDaid’s Pharmacy (declined to be photographed)
“If people keep using us, we will still be here.
“A lot of people are assuming that, if the surgery closes, we will too. That is not the case.
“People will need to order a little bit earlier and be more organised. It will take them longer to get repeat prescriptions.
“We have a minor ailments facility and people already tend to use us first because this is such a rural area. That’s what we are here for.”

 

Noreen Callaghan: owner Roslea Tile and Curtain
“I find it unbelievable that we are going backwards instead of forwards.
“We are being cut off. It’s nearly as bad as when the checkpoints were up – the sense of isolation is unbelievable.
“It’s far removed from when Dr. Darcy called around with his bag.
“I would love to see a huge advertisement saying: ‘Wanted: A GP for a welcoming, friendly community, where, compared to the city, bringing a child up here is heavenly; where, compared to the city, you can see the stars and breathe the pollution-free air.’
“I think the quality of life and the cheap cost of accommodation here would far outweigh any desires for a bigger salary or a life in the city.”

 

Gerry Scott: owner of G. Scott Hardware
“I got a sense from the meeting that it was too little, too late.
“There is quite a bit of angst among the people.
“Anything going in a small, rural village doesn’t help.
“There will be less footfall. Country people always have a message to go to town for. If they don’t have a reason to go to town, e.g. a doctor’s appointment, they won’t be calling in here.
“St. Eugene’s College has been winding down since Seamus Carolan’s time – it’s a pity for the village. However, a school does not do anything for an economy. Its loss will be more of a psycho-logical blow.
“The decision to close the surgery could risk lives. If someone up Eshnadarragh has a heart attack, they are going to be a long distance from medical help.
“But all is not lost for Rosslea. People here have always been resilient. There’s not going to be tumble weed blowing up the street. There’s a number of thriving businesses here.
“I’ve been here for 28 years and have survived tough times. We are a bit fearful about Brexit because of the uncertainty.
“When you are passionate about your livelihood, you will keep going.”