Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction among many members of the public with the manner a company (details supplied) executes its after-hours medical doctor service in the north Galway area, in parishes (details supplied) in County Galway and other areas; if much Exchequer funding was invested in the start-up operation of this company; the ongoing cost of this company in 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5938/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Westdoc is the out-of-hours general practitioner-led service which operates on a partnership basis between the participating GPs and the Health Service Executive, western area. The service has been operating since December 2002 and to date it has received more than 95,000 patient contacts. Westdoc has 107 general practitioners providing service to public and private patients in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

A patient satisfaction survey, independently conducted by the National University of Ireland, Galway in July 2003, found that patient satisfaction with the Westdoc service is very high. A further patient satisfaction survey will be conducted in 2005. The funding provided to the Health Service Executive's western region for the expansion of out of hours co-operatives since 2000 is contained in the following table.

This dedicated funding does not include fees paid to participating general practitioners.

During a recent visit to Galway, I met a delegation from east Galway who expressed concerns about the operation of Westdoc in their area. In particular they raised issues about the considerable distances that some people were required to travel to access a doctor. My Department has requested the chief officer for the Health Service Executive, western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.