NEDOC postpones planned cutbacks
The North East Doctor on Call service has agreed to postpone planned cutbacks to its service, pending discussions with the HSE, as managers of both organisations are at odds over the viability of the service at current funding levels.
The body, which operates an out of hours GP service across Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth, announced in June that it was to reduce its service to only offer telephone consultations from 10pm in the evenings and 10.30pm at weekends.
It said increasing pressure and the lack of a corresponding increase in funding led to the decision. It also said it was facing difficulties in securing doctors to cover shifts within the service.
The move was met with concern in local communities, and the HSE and Minister of Health were urged to intervene.
Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins, who was dealing with Dáil questions on behalf of the Health Minister in recent days, rejected some of the claims made by NEDOC.
He said just two GP vacancies exist in Cavan and Monaghan on the General Medical Service panel, with 33 vacancies across the country.
He also noted NEDOC is to receive in the region of €917,000 to provide out of hours GP services locally this year under a service level agreement with the HSE.
“The HSE has confirmed there has been no change to the funding arrangement for 2022. This year, NEDOC will receive approximately €917,000 for out-of-hours services. NEDOC is also in receipt of substantial grant funding for medical card patients and Covid test referral and assessment.”
He continued, stating that following a meeting between the HSE and NEDOC, the former is of the view the service “remains viable”.
“The HSE's view is the financial forecast for the company, given the return to almost pre-Covid activity levels, remains viable.”
However, NEDOC’s Operations Manager has rejected the Minister’s comments.
In a statement to The Anglo-Celt, Arlene Fitzsimons said while the changes, planned to come into place on August 2, have been deferred to allow further discussions, the service is not viable on its current level of funding.
“NEDOC is in receipt of some funding from the HSE specifically to cover the overnight services, however there has been a consistent shortfall in that specific funding from the HSE, a matter that we have been discussing with the HSE for many years.
“The financial forecast for the company is tenuous given the reliance on the HSE for funding of services.”
Ms Fitzsimons also rejected the comments from Minister Collins on payments for services provided during the pandemic: “In respect of Covid, which remains prevalent in the community, there has been no funding to NEDOC since January 2022 for the provision of Covid assessments/referrals in the co-op, meaning the company must rely on its own resources to ensure the service remains functioning.
“It is increasingly likely that NEDOC will not be financially viable into the future as we try to meet medical inflationary pressures in order to recruit doctors to the service.”