‘Scaremongering’: War of Words breaks out between Mayo TDs over GP care in Westport

Aontú TD Paul Lawless and Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh have traded sharp barbs over who has done more to protect continuity of care for patients of Dr Ita Mullaghy, whose practice in Westport is set to close at the end of November, with a new GP due to start in December.

By Jack Good Published 1st Oct 2026, 14:00 BST Keira Keogh TD and Paul Lawless TD row over GP care in Westport | Mayo News Aontú TD Paul Lawless and Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh have traded sharp barbs over who has done more to protect continuity of care for patients of Dr Ita Mullaghy, whose practice in Westport is set to close at the end of November, with a new GP due to start in December. A political spat has broken out between two Mayo TDs over the future of GP services in Westport The Mayo News broke the news on Tuesday that Dr Ita Mullaghy’s practice on The Mall in Westport is set to close at the end of November.

A text received by some of the practice’s patients last week created huge uncertainty for people in the town.

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In a rollercoaster week for patients, it was revealed yesterday that a new GP is set to start in Westport at the start of December, which will hopefully ensure continuity of care.

Aontú TD Paul Lawless and Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh have traded sharp barbs over who has done more to protect continuity of care for patients of Dr Ita Mullaghy, who will cease acting as their GP from 30 November 2026.

Deputy Keogh strongly criticised comments Deputy Lawless made in the Dáil, in which she said he suggested the Government should simply "make room" for the existing GP in Westport Primary Care Centre.

"I think it is deeply unhelpful to engage in scaremongering when people are already genuinely worried about access to their GP," she said. She argued that GPs had been invited to apply for accommodation in the centre, that the process had concluded, and that the available space is now fully allocated. "It is simply not credible to suggest that a room can now be produced at the stroke of a pen," she said.

Her party colleague in Westport Cllr Peter Flynn was quick to chime in with an unflattering contrast to Aontú TD Paul Lawless, “Good to see our local TD dealing with the facts and, importantly, informing and reassuring people about what is actually happening. That is in stark contrast to another TD who seemed to think frightening elderly patients was the way to deal with this situation. “

Deputy Keogh said the HSE has confirmed the replacement post has been advertised, applications received and interviews scheduled for October. The HSE said it hoped a successful candidate could take up duty on December 1 so that continuity of care is maintained for Dr Mullaghy's medical card patients. She said she has been in contact with local landlords who may have suitable premises, and has asked that the incoming GP be encouraged to use Practice Grant Support, including towards employing a practice nurse.

Deputy Lawless rejected the criticism, saying patients had contacted him because they were worried. "I did not invent this problem," he said. "I listened to them and I brought their concerns to the floor of Dáil Éireann."

He said those patients have since received a message from their GP stating that the surgery is being sold and that she has been "left with no other option" but to resign as their GP from November 30. "So I have a simple question for Deputy Keogh: are those patients scaremongers too?" he asked.

Westport GP to close leaving hundreds of Mayo patients in limbo Deputy Lawless said that when he raised the matter with the Minister for Health, "the Minister admitted she was not even aware of the situation". He argued this undermined any suggestion that everything was in hand before he raised it.

He also took issue with the focus on recruitment. "Replacing one doctor with another is not an increase in GP capacity," he said. "It is arithmetic masquerading as progress." In his view the objective should be to retain the current GP while recruiting additional doctors, with alternatives such as underutilised HSE accommodation, modular facilities or other public or private premises examined.

Both TDs criticised how patients learned of the change. Deputy Keogh said many received a text message telling them to collect their medical records using a USB stick, which she called "understandably alarming" for older patients without wider information about what happens next.

Deputy Lawless said elderly patients "are perfectly capable of reading the message sent to them by their own doctor", adding: "They did not need Paul Lawless to frighten them. They needed their public representatives to fight for them."

Both deputies said they want a solution. Deputy Lawless said the issue should not be about "political egos or who gets the photograph", and that if Deputy Keogh secures premises "tomorrow, I will congratulate her." He said he would have expected her to work with him rather than criticise him.

Deputy Keogh said her focus is "ensuring that a new GP is in place to serve Westport from December 1 and that patients experience as seamless a transition as possible". She said she would keep constituents informed as she receives further confirmed information.