A Sligo Leitrim TD has written to the Health Minister regarding the current talks taking place between the operators of the NowDoc service and the HSE.
This comes as the HSE prepare to withdraw from the NowDoc service, which covers many areas in the northwest, including Sligo and Leitrim.
There are fears that the move would lead to the privatisation of the service and ultimately a reduction in out of hours GP services in the region.
Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Kenny says the Government must reconsider the plan:
https://filedn.com/lglCaxamfnlV2gaMY6rU7tH/News%20Clips%202022/kennynowdoc.mp3
In a statement, the HSE said, "The NoWDOC GP Out of Hours Service provides an urgent GP service to patients in Co Donegal and South Leitrim.
The current operating model of GP OOH Service is managed and delivered by the HSE (NoWDOC) as part of a hybrid model with Caredoc providing GP’s for the delivery of care.
The HSE are continuing to work in partnership with NoWDOC & Caredoc to ensure that the public using the GP Out of Hours Service, and the staff working in the service, are provided with the necessary supports to deliver the best care to our service users, while ensuring that patient safety and quality of service are at the forefront of service delivery.
Exploratory discussions have commenced with relevant stakeholders surrounding the most effective arrangements needed to continue to deliver a safe quality driven service for our community, while also focusing on the need to examine the potential redesign of the operating model for the GP Out of Hours service in Donegal and South Leitrim going forward.
We remain fully committed to supporting our staff who are working in our NoWDOC service, and will ensure that we are engaging with staff directly and with their representative bodies throughout these discussions.
The HSE will continue to communicate and engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure they are fully appraised of and consulted on any future developments."
