HSE responds to Harkin claims about NoWDOC out of hours GP service

The HSE has this evening responded to Deputy Marian Harkin's view that potential HSE plans would cut NoWDOC services in Carrick-on-Shannon and move them to Sligo Caredoc.

The Sligo Leitrim TD, speaking in the Dáil, expressed alarm that among the options explored in a recent HSE consultation document is the suspension of the out-of-hours service in Carrick-on-Shannon at midnight each night, resulting in a reduction of cover from 118 hours to 62 hours per week.

Addressing Junior Health Minister Mary Butler in the Dáil, Deputy Harkin referred to the consultation document examining GP out-of-hour services in Donegal and South Leitrim, “there is a real possibility, even probability, that out-of-hours calls would be, first of all diverted to a centre in Carlow, and then the out-of-hour services in Carrick-on-Shannon would be diverted to Sligo after midnight. It is very clear from the options presented in this document that if this goes ahead, in a few years’ time, rural areas, particularly South Leitrim and North Roscommon will not be well served,” she said.

In response, the HSE this evening stated that 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. The examination of the service at this time forms part of the HSE response to clinical concerns raised by Caredoc & NoWDOC staff. 

"We remain fully committed to supporting our staff who are working in our NoWDOC service, and we will continue to ensure that we maintain excellent working relationships with all our partners and are very focused on working with staff and their representative bodies to explore all options available for the potential redesign of the operating model for the GP Out of Hours service in Donegal and South Leitrim to meet any challenges which are being identified," the HSE statement said.

"As part of these communications the HSE has met today (Friday) with the Donegal Regional Health Forum and Oireachtas members and provided an update in relation to the NoWDOC GP Out of Hours service.  This was a positive and constructive engagement and the concerns raised by the public representatives are being listened to.

"We have given assurances that 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.

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.

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 Out of Hours 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.

Addressing Junior Health Minister Mary Butler in the Dáil, Deputy Harkin had referred to the consultation document examining GP out-of-hour services in Donegal and South Leitrim, "there is a real possibility, even probability, that out-of-hours calls would be, first of all diverted to a centre in Carlow, and then the out-of-hour services in Carrick-on-Shannon would be diverted to Sligo after midnight.

"It is very clear from the options presented in this document that if this goes ahead, in a few years’ time, rural areas, particularly South Leitrim and North Roscommon will not be well served," she said.

"As of now, the NoWDOC out-of-hours GP service covers just over 70% of the week, operating Monday to Friday from 6pm to 8am and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. If the service in Carrick-on-Shannon is to finish at midnight, any client that requires the out-of-hours GP service would have to be directed to Caredoc in Sligo, a round trip from Carrick-on-Shannon of 109km or 128km from Ballinamore.

The Deputy told the Minister she is concerned to ensure that an optimum level of care is provided in the NoWDOC area, “It is crucial, Minister, 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,” she said. “The reason I raised this issue this evening is, first of all to highlight it, and secondly to look for a guarantee from you that there will be no diminution of services under any changes proposed to this service.”

While the Minister sought to reassure Deputy Harkin that the HSE has made no decision in relation to the redesign of the operating model and no decision will be made without the active involvement of relevant stakeholders, Deputy Harkin was not reassured.

“Minister, I suppose what I'm concerned about is that we may end up at a point where the service is not designed to suit the people but that it's designed the other way around and people may have to travel long distances to access healthcare in order to suit the service,” she said. “Right now, this is just a proposal and the purpose of raising it in the Dáil is to ensure that it doesn’t become a decision and a plan. I absolutely don't want to see that happen."