Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have serious concerns about the NowDoc service. The NowDoc service is an out-of-hours GP service covering three municipalities, Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballinamore in south Leitrim, and Boyle in north Roscommon. There is a possibility that this will be privatised and moved from HSE control. I am concerned about the impact of that. There is a probability, which I will explain in a moment, that this change would ensure that out-of-hours calls would be diverted to a centre in Carlow and that out-of-hours services in Carrick-on-Shannon would be diverted to Sligo after midnight.

I have here a consultation document examining the GP out-of-hours service in Donegal and south Leitrim, NowDoc. The document considers the objectives and some of the proposed options. One of the options proposed in phase 1 is to examine the options available to locate Carrick-on-Shannon under Sligo Caredoc. There are many issues with the NowDoc service and I do not have time to go into them. I want to focus on the possible closure of the Carrick-on-Shannon office after midnight.

As of now the NowDoc out-of-hours GP service covers just more than 70% of the week, operating from Monday to Friday from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. That comes to 118 hours per week, which is significant. However, under these proposals there may be a cut in the out-of-hours service from 118 hours to 62 hours per week because if the service in Carrick-on-Shannon is to finish at midnight any client who requires the out-of-hours GP service would have to be directed to Caredoc in Sligo - a round trip from Carrick-on-Shannon of 108 km or from Ballinamore of 128 km. It is clear from the options presented in this document that if this goes ahead, in a few years rural areas particularly south Leitrim and north Roscommon will not be well served.

I want to ensure that optimum care is provided in the NowDoc area so that people can access out-of-hours GP services in a timely fashion. I am aware that NowDoc and Caredoc have identified a number of concerns that impact on patient safety and quality of service. They are listed in this document and they need to be dealt with. It is crucial that whatever changes are made must benefit patients. They must provide a safe service but they must also ensure greater access to healthcare rather than any diminution of services. As I said, some of the options presented in this consultation document would result in a withdrawal of certain out-of-hours services from Carrick-on-Shannon. I raised this issue this evening to highlight it and to look for a guarantee from the Minister of State that there will be no diminution of services under any changes proposed to this service.

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