Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Gould raised the issue of SouthDoc not doing its job. SouthDoc saw 220,000 patients last year. It has 19 vehicles available to call out to people as well, so there is a whole rota of people available to call out to patients. If a patient is deemed to be so unwell that he or she cannot travel to a centre then SouthDoc will arrange a visit. Patients are seen, on average, within four hours from the time a call is made. That is the service SouthDoc provides. One in eight of the people who go to SouthDoc is referred for further care, either to the accident and emergency unit or to one of the hospitals in Cork or Kerry, whichever the case may be. It is important to emphasise that.

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this issue. It is important that people do have access to services in a timely manner. SouthDoc is committed to the long-term continuation of its out-of-hours services in Cork city. I reiterate that there are no plans to close the Blackpool treatment centre. The Minister for Health has made it clear that he is to be informed if there is any change in that position. He has engaged regularly, through the HSE, with SouthDoc as a result of Deputy Gould's engagement in this House and he will continue to do so, as necessary. The Minister is aware that the Deputy has also had direct contact with the HSE regarding this matter. The Minister and the Government remain committed to ensuring access to of-out-hours GP services on an equitable basis. Therefore that is the-----

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