Galway GP pauses taking new patients after ‘overwhelming’ amount of requests following retirement of colleague

Culleen Medical Centre have released a statement following an ‘overwhelming’ number of registration requests that came in the wake of a GP’s retirement.

The medical centre, which is located in Headford, have told prospective patients that they cannot accommodate the hundreds of patient registrations in such a short space of time.

The sudden uptick in registration requests came following the recent retirement of one of the centre’s GP colleague.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the centre said that it was a ‘deeply regrettable situation’ and they sympathised with those suddenly finding themselves without a GP.

However, they added that private patient medical care and records could not be automatically transferred to the HSE or any other medical professionals.

They confirmed that acceptance of new private patients would be temporarily paused with effect from 7 January 2026. They also said that they plan to relocate the centre to a bigger premises later this year.

The statement read: “Culleen Medical Centre has received an unprecedented number of enquiries and registration requests from private patients of a recently retired GP colleague.

“When a GP ceases practice, private patients should be notified in writing by the retiring GP in a timely manner, typically several months in advance of the retirement date, to allow them to register with an alternative GP and to arrange the lawful transfer of their medical records by explicit written consent. In accordance with Medical Council guidance, responsibility for the patient’s ongoing care remains with the retiring GP until appropriate arrangements for continuity of care and the transfer of records have been completed. Private patient medical care and confidential medical records cannot be automatically transferred to the HSE or to any other medical professional.

“Under Irish legislation, including the Data Protection Act 2018 and Recital 32 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), private patients must provide explicit written consent for their private and confidential medical information to be transferred to another GP. Such consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.

“There is therefore no legal basis for the automatic transfer of private patient care or medical records without a patient’s informed consent. Where patients are not notified of a GP’s retirement in a timely manner, their ability to register elsewhere and provide the necessary consent for records transfer may be significantly constrained.

“As a result of these circumstances, Culleen Medical Centre experienced an overwhelming volume of registration requests from private patients within a very short timeframe, placing significant strain on our staff and systems. In the interests of patient safety and staff wellbeing, the decision was made to temporarily pause the acceptance of new private patient registrations with effect from 7 January 2026. This decision will be kept under ongoing review and reassessed once we are in a position to safely and appropriately manage additional registrations.

“We recognise that this decision is causing anxiety, distress, and uncertainty for private patients who have suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves without a GP. This is a deeply regrettable situation, and we sincerely sympathise with all those affected.

“In a positive development, the recent installation of a separate internet line at Headford Health Centre now allows for the installation of a second on-site server. This will support the development of the necessary IT infrastructure and, we hope, enable administrative staff to be based on site in the Health Centre later this week.

“Culleen Medical Centre is a growing and expanding practice committed to the people and community of Headford, Co. Galway. We will be launching a practice website shortly to allow for direct communication with the community. In addition, we plan to relocate the original Culleen surgery to a new, larger premises in Headford town later this year.

“This expansion will enable us to provide a modern, professional, and appropriately resourced healthcare service for the town and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, our current temporary infrastructure and clinical set-up do not allow us to safely accommodate requests from hundreds, or potentially thousands, of new private patients within such a short timeframe.

“We thank you for your understanding and patience as we move forward.”