HSE responds to criticism from local cllr over NEDoC funding cuts

The HSE has responded to concerns raised by Trim councillor Ray Butler over proposed cuts to funding for the North-East Doctor-on-Call (NEDoC) service following the HSE's national review of GP out-of-hours services. The HSE has said the review recommended standardising all payments for out of hours services across the nine national GP co-ops. In last week's Meath Chronicle, Cllr Butler said he was greatly concerned that the excellent service given by NEDoC would be drastically reduced in 2011 due to funding cuts and said he believed the national review was “just another report to justify the HSE's decision to cut back this essential frontline serviceâ€. Responding to Cllr Butler's comments, the HSE said a national review of GP out-of-hours services was completed in 2010 and that recommendations were accepted for implementation by the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. The review found a number of models of funding for GP out-of-hours services, resulting in different costs associated with treatment per patient in the out-of-hours setting. Seven of the nine national GP co-ops have received a special type consultation payment per GMS patient treated. Two of the national GP co-ops, including NEDoC Ltd, have received an annual grant payment. The HSE has said the review recommends standardising the payment method across all co-ops to that of special type consultantion (STC). The STC rate was reduced since the review was completed in spring 2010 and a new rate of €45 per GMS patient treated was advised by the Dept of Health in December 2010 under FEMPI (financial emergency measures in the public interest) regulations, which has reduced rates for a number of professional services. “The HSE recognises the amount paid to GPs will reduce. It is also important to note that GPs will retain fully the private patient income of the NEDoC service. At meetings between the HSE and NEDoC Ltd in 2010, it was recognised by both parties that the reduction in funding will mean having to review the service in terms of its rostering and the services it provides. “The NEDoC service is intended to address urgent medical conditions and problems that cannot wait until the GP surgery re-opens. It is not a routine GP service nor an emergency service.†The HSE said that another aspect of the review is that GPs in the region will be able to claim an STC for urgent GMS patients treated in their surgeries between 8am-9am and 5-6pm Monday-Friday and GPs in the north-east did not claim during these hours as part of the agreement in relation to the grant payment. The HSE said it recognises the valuable role of the service and has added that it will continue to engage with NEDoC Ltd in the coming weeks in relation to the structure of the GP out-of-hours services from 1st March 2011.