The Health Minister has admitted that there are serious issues with securing healthcare staff in rural areas of the North West.
It comes as the idea of employing Cuban doctors to bridge the gap in the health service has once again been flagged in the Dail by Independent TD Thomas Pringle.
Deputy Pringle has long been campaigning for the Department of Health and the HSE to consider the move following a similar move by the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
Minister Stephen Donnelly says there are efforts underway to increase the workforce: