Over one million lack access to out-of-hours doc services
MORE than one million people still lack access to a formal service providing GP care in the evenings and at weekends, a new report shows.
GP co-ops were set up around the country in recent years allowing experienced family doctors in a particular area to agree on arrangements where one or more of them are rostered to respond to calls from the public outside normal surgery hours.
The system is aimed at ending the hit-and-miss situation many people find themselves in when trying to access doctor care in an emergency outside of normal hours.
It also allows GPs to take time off and avoid burn-out as they struggle to cope with their normal surgery work and evening and night calls from patients.
The added benefit is that it means patients who have minor complaints do not have to make the journey to hospital A&E departments, which are already over-stretched.
The service has been particularly important since the swine flu outbreak -- the number of patients contacting co-ops in September reached 83,896, a rise of 21pc over the previous month.
However a new Health Service Executive (HSE) report shows several areas of the country are still without these co-ops.
GPs in these areas must either respond to the calls themselves or hire a locum service to deal with calls in their absence.
The HSE performance report estimated that more than three million people, or 72pc of the population, have access to GP co-op services.
However around 28pc, more than 1.1 million people, are without it, particularly in areas of Galway and Limerick, and regional variations exist too.
The report pointed out: "In the absence of accessible GP out-of-hours services, patients may seek care by attending the emergency department or their local hospital, or by using the ambulance/emergency service."
GP co-ops receive funding from the HSE and can be based in a health centre, a public hospital or in another location.
Doctors who agree to provide the service work on a rota basis in the evenings, at weekends and on bank and public holidays.
Patients can phone a lo-call number to access the service and the telephone advice dispensed by a nurse or a doctor is often enough.
It may be their problem is minor and all they need is to explain the symptoms and they can be reassured over the phone.
Care may also include attendance at a treatment centre or a home visit by the doctor on duty.
The service is free to people with a GP visit card or full medical card but private patients pay a full fee.
- Eilish O'Regan
Irish Independent
