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"Patient health will
be put at risk"
DONEGAL TDS and senators have been asked to attend a
meeting in Letterkenny on Friday to discuss the
"dismantling" of the county's out-of-hours GP
service, NowDoc.
The meeting has been arranged by the IMPACT trade
union which described proposed cuts in the service
as "an affront" to the people of Co Donegal.
The trade union's North West spokesperson, Richy
Carrothers, said the HSE is currently planning
compulsory redeployment of receptionist-call handler
staff in Carndonagh and three other locations. He
said this would mean that these centres would likely
be closed to the public on a regular basis while
doctor and driver are out on calls. Meanwhile,
IMPACT said fresh doubts had arisen about the future
of the NowDoc ‘red eye’ shift from midnight to 8am.
“I have very real concerns that proposals will
emerge from the GP NowDoc board that will
effectively split the NowDoc service in its current
format, particularly the ‘red eye’ shift. All in all
the NoWDOC service is disappearing before our very
eyes and should the wishes of the HSE and the NowDoc
board be realised, undoubtedly there will be major
risks to the on-going health of service users in
this county," said Mr Carrothers.
"Despite all of the polite words from the HSE, they
have yet to risk assess service provision after the
receptionist-call handler staff are redeployed.”
The changes will be discussed this evening during a
scheduled meeting of the NowDoc board, made up of
local GPs.
Mr Carrothers added: “The erosion of the ‘red eye’
would be a further major blow and endanger patient
safety. It is also very short sighted, in that the
curtailment of the NowDoc service will likely lead
to a greater number of people presenting themselves
for treatment to both Letterkenny and Sligo General
Hospitals – further increasing costs and waiting
times in Accident and Emergency." Referring to
tomorrow's meeting to which Oireachtas members have
been urged to attend, Mr Carrothers added: "We need
cross party support in Donegal to stop the
dismantling of this critical frontline service.
Ultimately, if the GPs and the HSE do not listen,
then this matter requires immediate political
intervention." |
