About.

We are a small, rural GP practice made up of local doctors, nurses and administrative staff. We provide tailored care for individuals and families with a focus on easy access to comprehensive health care in your community. 

Established in 1836

Over 180 years of medical care in the community. The Dunfanaghy dispensary was originally established in 1836 with Dr. M.M. Sproule M.D appointed as the first dispensary doctor. Since then 16 doctors have served the community with Dr Paul and Rory Stewart currently holding the post.
The new health centre in Creeslough opened in 2004. It is a modern, purpose built facility ideally situated to serve the needs of the community. It includes a full range of GP services and consultation rooms for our Public Health Nurse Labhaoise Temple, along with a HSE dental suite.

* History courtesy of Mr William Robinson

Our Goal

To provide tailored, high quality care for you and your family​ in the community.
​We will strive to advocate for you and your family and will always try to act in the best interest of you our patient.
​

We're Here for You 24/7

The current GP contract commits to provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In reality, this requires a huge commitment from GPs throughout the country.
In most situations it is appropriate to see us during office hours (9:00am - 5pm) but should you become acutely unwell a GP is always contactable by phone by calling the surgery answering machine for details or NOWDOC out of hours.
​We are NOT an emergency service. In the event of an emergency you should contact an ambulance immediately and not delay access to care which might potentially be life saving.

Our Team

Dr Rory Stewart 
General Practitioner

Qualifications
MB, Bch, BAO, BSc, MSc, MICGP, MBPsS, MFSEM.
 
Rory grew up in the nearby town of Falcarragh. He is a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners and the British Psychological Society. He originally studied for a degree in Psychology in the University of Ulster, while also working part-time as a counsellor. He went on to study Medicine as a mature student in Trinity College Dublin. He graduated with a degree in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics in 2012. He has published extensively in peer reviewed medical journals and presented at many national and international medical conferences. He holds the distinction of winning the Noel Brown prize for general practice, the Trinity College Tercentenary Gold Medal, the Brian Callaghan foundation prize for postgraduate research, the John Carroll research prize and the prestigious Sheppard Memorial prize awarded by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Rory was also shortlisted for the 2018 GP BUDDY Patients' Choice Award. He currently occupies the role of Clinical Tutor & Lecturer in the school of Public Health and Primary Care at Trinity College Dublin.
Following completion of his undergraduate studies he carried out his internship in both Tallaght and St Luke’s hospitals before taking up a post as a GP trainee on the Donegal Specialist Training Scheme in General Practice. During this time he worked as a Senior House Officer in Letterkenny University Hospital which has given him a detailed insight into how the local hospital works.
Following this he completed 2 years as a GP registrar in a variety of practices around Donegal before taking up his current role as a GP in Dunfanaghy and Creeslough. Rory has recently completed his Masters thesis in Medical Education from Queen's University Belfast.
Rory has a keen interest in rural health, teaching and medical research. He has been an outspoken advocate for health services in Donegal and is passionate about protecting rural communities in Ireland.
Rory’s specialist interests include teaching, child and adolescent health, sports medicine, women's health, care of the elderly and rural health.

Dr Paul Stewart  
​General Practitioner

Qualifications
​MB, Bch, BAO, HDip, MSc, MICGP, FRCGP.

Paul is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he completed his primary degree in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics in 1979. He is a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners and a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Paul has been working as a GP in Donegal for more than 35 years. He has been the head of the GP specialist training scheme in Donegal for most of that time.
In the early years Paul worked in the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Dublin as a Senior House Officer (SHO) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology before working in The Royal Victoria Children's Hospital, Belfast and as a Psychiatry SHO in Whiteabbey. Paul completed his G.P. vocational training in Ballyclare, Co Antrim.
He has a Masters degree in primary care from Trinity College Dublin and has a higher diploma in Medical Educational from NUI Galway.
He was previously the Adjunct Assistant Professor in General Practice in Trinity College Dublin and has many years’ experience teaching many of the GPs currently practicing in Donegal today.
Paul has a wealth of General Practice experience with a specialist interest in Contraceptive Health, Maternity Care, Occupational Health and Dermatology.
He has published both nationally and internationally and is a frequent attender at many national and international conferences.
Paul has previously held positions on the North Western Health board, was provost of the Irish faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Vice-Chair on the executive of the Irish College of General Practitioners.
He is at present a board member of the Alcohol Forum and sits on the Donegal implementation committee of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy as well as the steering committee of the Jigsaw project. He is also the current Director of Post Graduate Medical Education and Training at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Nurses: Levina, Bella & Caroline

Bella Stewart
​​Practice Nurse & Midwife

Bella has been a practising nurse for over 38 years. She trained and qualified as a General Nurse in Mercers Hospital, Dublin now the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in June 1980.
She went on to complete her training in surgical theatre nursing in Jervis Street Hospital Dublin before she took up a post as a staff nurse in the operating theatre department in the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.
Continuing her professional development she went on to complete her midwifery training in the Royal Maternity Hospital.
Shortly afterwards Bella and her husband Paul moved to Donegal where she took the time to rear her family and work part-time in Letterkenny General Hospital. In 1991 the Irish Health Service saw the benefit of having nurses work alongside General Practitioners and Bella took the opportunity to become a Practice Nurse.  She was a founding member of the Donegal Branch of the Irish Practice Nurses Association and represented Practice Nurses in the Commission of Nursing in 1997.
Bella has worked as a Practice Nurse and Midwife in General Practice for over 25 years.  She has completed many courses in Chronic Disease Management and continued her professional education in all aspects of nursing in General practice. She holds the distinction of winning the Irish Practice Nurse of the Year award in 1996 and was joint winner of the Farley Community Award Scheme in 1997.

Caroline Moore
Practice Nurse

Caroline is a Donegal native and has many years experience working as a practice nurse. She previously held positions in both Milford and Rathmullan GP practices. Caroline runs our Happy Heart and Healthy Hypertension programs. 

Levina McFadden
Practice Nurse & Midwife
​
Levina is a fully trained & registered midwife. She works part-time as a hospital midwife in Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) and has in dept knowledge of how the maternity service in LUH works.
She lives locally in the creeslough area. Levina runs our Diabetic care program. 

Our administrative Team
 
Julie Wilkinson is a native of Creeslough. She is our practice manager, receptionist and registered phlebotomist. Julie runs our phlebotomy (bloods) clinic on Wednesday & Thursday mornings.

Caroline Friel originally from Marblehill is our accounts manager and administrative assistant. She also helps with the reception and is a strong community member, helping to run the local branch of the Saint Vincent DePaul.
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Bernadette McFadden is our practice receptionist and adminstrative assistant. She is also the Official Social Prescriber for the area. She would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to get involved in local community activities.

Michelle McGinley is the newest member of our team. She is from Dunfanaghy and works as a part-time receptionist and administrative assistant.

Bernadette, Michelle, Caroline & Julie