Cape Clear residents demand permanent nursing cover amid health gaps

Residents of Cape Clear island have launched a petition urging the HSE and the health minister to provide continuous nursing cover on the Gaeltacht community.

The island, 13 km off the Cork coast, has been without a registered general nurse on 51 % of days between January 2023 and August 2024, according to data gathered by locals. July saw no nursing cover at all and only five days were covered in August.

Rita O’Donoghue, who suffers spinal injuries after a 2022 road accident, highlighted the impact of the shortage. She now travels to Cork University Hospital for treatment and relies on a nurse to monitor her blood pressure and relay information to doctors. “One time I waited three weeks for a GP appointment, the same as anybody here would,” she said.

Long‑time islander Patrick O’Drisceoil, a farmer and ferry worker, warned that the lack of a public health nurse forces residents to consider moving to the mainland. “There were 14,000 visitors on the ferry alone this summer and no nurse,” he said, adding that the stress is affecting the community’s wellbeing.

Calls for action

Petitions, stored in an orange folder at the island’s shop near the pier, request increased nursing provision and a return of regular GP visits, which have not occurred for roughly a year. Residents also note that in severe weather the RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard helicopter cannot assist, and power cuts can prevent harbour storm‑gates from opening, compounding isolation concerns.

The community hopes that heightened pressure will lead to a permanent nursing presence, restoring confidence in local healthcare services.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Phil Evenden / Pexels.