NEDoC service under threat
The North East Doctor on Call service has warned it will be unviable to offer a service this weekend if new funding measures aren't put in place by the HSE,
According to operations manager, Arlene Fitzsimons, despite the fact that 70 per cent of calls to the service are now dealt with by doctor triage, the HSE has refused to fund doctor triage/doctor telephone assessment calls in out of hours services.
However the HSE said revised measures are expected to be in place by the weekend.
“We usually have 21 doctors on duty on a Saturday and we now have had an explosion of calls.
“They are trying to reassure people in relation to their symptoms and it is not feasible that they should come in and work when they are not funded.
“There has been a complete change in th service we prvide since the outbreak of Covid-19 and we are very disappointed that the HSE doesn't deem it appropriatge to pay the service for doctor triage.
”These are doctors who are working flat out in their own practices and then they are expected to come in and manage such a huge volume of calls without payment. It is unviable,” she said.
Deputy Thomas Byrne said NEDOC is not financially viable if the HSE will not fund doctor triage.
“The HSE has forced NEDOC to make a decision to wind down the service from Friday so there will no doctors on duty from this weekend.
“I have written to the Chief Medical Officer and the Minister for Health to highlight this issue and ensure that this services continues,” he said.
A spekesperson for the HSE said that on the 16th of March, the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation reached agreement on a number of General Practice orientated measures to ensure General Practice could maintain essential services as well as assisting in efforts to combat COVID-19.
“The HSE is continuing to engage with the IMO and General Practice on a range of issues including arrangements which would ensure continuity of Out of Hours services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
“It is envisaged that the revised measures will be in place before the coming weekend,” she concluded..