The decision to transfer almost a thousand medical card patients from Newmarket-on-Fergus to Clarecastle has been described as ‘unacceptable’ by Clare Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe.
Deputy Crowe’s comments come as the HSE confirmed to him that the medical care for medical card holders in Newmarket-on-Fergus will transition to the Saffron & Blue Medical Clinic in Clarecastle from 1st January 2026.
The current medical card contract has been run from Carrigoran Nursing Home in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
According to Deputy Crowe: “It is hugely unacceptable that the medical care for almost a thousand medical card holders will be transferred to the Saffron & Blue Clinic in Clarecastle. This news, which comes just three weeks before the service transition, will affect 927 medical card holders in Newmarket-on-Fergus, including approximately 50 people who are resident in Carrigoran Nusing Home.
“Over the past number of years I have worked with the local Newmarket-on-Fergus committee to secure a permanent service and I brought a delegation to meet with then Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
“This news will be a devastating blow to the people of Newmarket-on-Fergus, one of the biggest towns in County Clare.
“It is simply unfathomable that almost a thousand patients can be transferred to a clinic which it already bursting at the seams and not expect it to be much harder to obtain GP services.
“We have already seen this play out in Kildysart where the continuity of their GP service, which is also operated by Saffron & Blue, and the majority of whom have to travel to Clarecastle for their regular appointments now.
“The HSE say that after an ‘extensive search’ of Newmarket-on-Fergus and the surrounding area they have been unable to find a suitable premises. I understand that 20 residential, commercial and community properties were considered over the past three years, with a further call for expression of interests advertised by the HSE in June 2025.
“I am very concerned about the risk of oversaturation of patients out of one clinic and the obvious effect that that could have on patient care going forward. Furthermore, it is a long and difficult commute for many patients, who may be elderly or unwell, who will now be expected to travel the distance to Clarecastle for care. The search for a permanent base for a Newmarket-on-Fergus GP practice must continue and it is simply not acceptable that the HSE should cease their search for a suitable premises.
“I will work very closely with Cllr David Griffin and the local community in vociferously pushing for this decision to be reversed. I have written to the HSE and to the Minister for Health asking for this process to be reopened for every stop to be pulled out to find a suitable premises as soon as possible.”