Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Minister for Health whether he is aware of a reduction in service in SouthDoc, Blackpool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9637/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of a reduction in the SouthDoc out of hours GP service at the Blackpool treatment centre.

Services are provided by SouthDoc by appointment basis across all treatment centres. When an individual contacts SouthDoc all relevant information is taken. The nature and the clinical condition of the patient then determines the service provided. If it is determined that a consultation with the duty doctor is appropriate, depending on the circumstances, the consultation may be provided remotely, in-person at a suitable treatment centre or through a home visit.

The HSE has advised that SouthDoc's out of hours services remains available to patients and that patients continue to have access to their services. There has been no reduction in service to patients in Cork city and there are no plans to withdraw the availability of the centres in the city for when in-person consultations are deemed clinically necessary.