Shock as existing MIDOC service to cease
The existing MIDOC GP Out Of Hours Service in the midlands is to cease on midnight, December 31, the HSE has confirmed.
The shock development has arisen after the HSE and the GPs had been discussing the financial challenges facing the service.
The HSE has said that it has put in place cover through a third party in the interim to continue the service and is seeking an alternative provider in the longer term.
GPs across the country provide out of hours services for their patients usually through GP Co-operatives which the HSE part funds.
The Midlands co-operative, MIDOC, serves Tullamore, Athlone, Portlaoise, Mullingar and Longford.
In a statement over Christmas, the HSE Midlands Louth Meath Community Healthcare said it had been “engaging with MIDOC GPOOH (General Practitioners Out of Hours) for a number of months to help address the financial challenges it faced”.
“The HSE is disappointed that MIDOC has made the decision to cease trading for an indefinite period, effective midnight 31 December 2022 when we were looking to provide to provide a sustainable model going forward.
“In the short-term and to mitigate the risks, through a third party the HSE has put in place appropriate cover based on normal and scheduled GPOOH practice and rosters and to ensure that the necessary supports are in place 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.
“In addition the HSE is in the process of seeking an alternative provider which we hope to have in place in the coming month. 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.”
Only last week, the HSE in advertisements in local media highlighted the hours of operation of MIDOC over the Christmas/New Year period, extending up to January 3, with no reference to it closing on December 31.
Independent Councillor, Sean O'Brien, has called on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and the HSE, to take urgent action to save the MIDOC service in Offaly and the Midlands.
"This is a vital service for the people of Offaly and the Midlands and I am calling on the Minister and the HSE to take urgent action to save this service," states Cllr O' Brien.
"We already have a serious problem with people getting enrolled in a GP practice in Offaly and people who want to apply for a Medical Card cannot get a GP to accept them in the practice as they are already overwhelmed with applicants. If the MIDOC service ceases then local people will be faced with a serious lack of service especially during surgery out of office hours at night and at weekends," continued Cllr O' Brien.
"The MIDOC service has been operating for 20 years and has been widely used by the public when they could not get access to a GP surgery and it has provided the public with an opportunity to gain essential access to a GP in emergency situations. The HSE have stated that they are looking at alternatives which they say they hope to have to have in place in the coming months. People need a service now. This situation, combined with the shortage of regular access to a GP, is going to cause a serious problem for the public and we need to have it addressed as a matter of urgency" concluded Cllr O'Brien