Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply on behalf of the Department of Health. As I said, it is certainly welcome that the Westdoc service has been expanded to cover the critical 12 midnight to 8 a.m. period and I welcome also the funding that was provided in this year's budget. Since I first raised the issue in 2020, there have been improvements in the service, and I want that to be concluded such that we will get full Westdoc cover.I welcome the fact there is engagement between the HSE, the management of Westdoc and GPs locally. I hope they can come to an agreement, with funding from the HSE, to provide full Westdoc cover for Moycullen, Roscahill and Oughterard. As I said, that would be very welcome with regard to the integration of services, taking the pressure off locally based GPs and making the position of GPs in these areas more attractive where vacancies arise, such as at present in Oughterard.