Out-of-hours GP services in Clare are a "question of value for money"

OUT-OF-HOURS GP services in Clare have been "unable to cope with demand on numerous occasions", according to a TD for the county.

Independent TD for Clare Violet-Anne Wynne has called for questions "of value for public money" to be asked of the ShannonDoc out-of-hours co-operative.

"We all have experienced at one time or another how difficult it is to access services at Shannondoc," Deputy Wynne said in a statement.

"I believe that if we are serious about realising the vision of Sláintecare then we need to have a serious reassessment of this service level agreement model, which in counties like Clare can sometimes lead itself to an inequitable and inadequate level of out-of-hours GP care."

In reply to a parliamentary question by Deputy Wynne, asking for his views on the matter of  the service level agreement between the HSE and Shannondoc for the provision of out-of-hours GP services, Minster for Heath Stephen Donnelly said that the HSE "is in regular contact with all Out of Hours service providers to ensure that these services continue to meet the needs of their local communities".

"General practitioners that hold GMS contracts for the provision of services to medical card and GP visit card holders, are required under their contract to make suitable arrangements for emergencies outside normal practice hours," Minister Donnelly continued. " A robust GP Out of Hours services ensures that, as much as possible, urgent care needs are met in the community and not in a hospital setting."

Deputy Wynne also criticised the lack of scrutiny on public money provided by the HSE to private co-operatives such as ShannonDoc, who received €5 million in 2022.

According to Deputy Wynne; "this makes it very difficult for public representatives like myself to ask questions or receive information from [ShannonDoc] about the level of services they provide such as when, where, and who are involved in the provision of these services."