Dail Committee to probe Midoc collapse in Laois and midlands

The Dail’s Public Accounts Committee will be asked to probe the collapse of Midoc. 

Laois TD Brian Stanley said he will ask the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to investigate the withdrawal of the Midoc out of hours GP service.

“As Chairperson of the (PAC) I will be requesting that we examine this matter thoroughly. I want the committee to examine the funding model, the structure and the mechanisms for accountability that have been or are still in place.”

The withdrawal of this out of hours GP service on Christmas Eve requires further examination. The decision by this private company, which has been in receipt of significant sums of public money, has put a further question mark over how out of hours GP services are provided in this State,” said Deputy Stanley.

In a statement before Christmas, the HSE said: “In the short-term and to mitigate the risks, through a third party the HSE has put in place appropriate cover based on normal and scheduled GPOOH practice and rosters and to ensure that the necessary supports are in place to deliver the best care to our service users, while ensuring that patient safety and quality of service are at the forefront of service delivery.”

“In addition the HSE is in the process of seeking an alternative provider which we hope to have in place in the coming month,” the HSE stated. 

Out of hours GP service for Laois and midlands to shut over 'financial challenges'

According to Deputy Stanley, “the reality is that six different models of private cover are used across the country to provide this service. This ad hoc approach is not sustainable. The collapse of Midoc follows on from problems over the past year with South Doc, which provides out of hours GP services in Cork and Kerry. Services were suspended in some locations in these two counties.”

“I have engaged with senior HSE management regarding alternative cover to replace Midoc. They assure me that interim measures are in place up to mid January with the option to extend this arrangement with a third party. They also state that they are actively pursuing other options,” he said. 

“However, in the longer term we need to move to a proper public out of hours services that are staffed by doctors employed directly by the HSE,” insisted Deputy Stanley.