Call on HSE to hire its own doctors to replace defunct Midoc out-of-hours service

Doctors should be employed directly by the HSE to provide an out-of-hours service to according to Brian Stanley TD who insists that an "interim solution only" has been reached due to the decision by midlands GP shut down the Midoc company that was contracted to provide the service.

The Sinn Féin TD said nothing fundamentally has changed since it was announced on Christmas Eve that Midoc GP Company Limited by Guarantee would cease operations by January 1.

”I have engaged with HSE management over the past week and I welcome their efforts in getting an out-of-hours service in place at such a short notice. However, the position is the same as it was on Christmas Eve, in that the private entity Midoc has “ceased trading"," he said.

The TD said this underlines what he said was a "failure" of successive governments policy, of trying to provide public health services through what he said is a "patchwork" of private companies like Midoc which was set up in 2002.

He called for a new approach run directly by the HSE without the 'middle man'.

"What is now required, is for the service to be staffed by directly employed GPs. It is already the case that the HSE owned the buildings that Midoc operated out of. They also employed the nurses, receptionists and call takers. The logic then is for GPs to be also employed directly within the public health system.

"I have urged HSE management to move in this direction and I will also convey this to the health Minister. We cannot continue to rely on private businesses to provide essential public health services,” he said. 

Dep Stanley, who is also chair of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, said he would calling for an investigation by the high-powered committee into Midoc.

Dail Committee to probe Midoc collapse in Laois and midlands

Midoc has mad no comment on the situation. The HSE said the company ceased trading due to financial challenges.

Sticking plaster deal on Laois GP out-of-hours service but Midoc will cease trading

The interim agreement is understood to involve the HSE paying doctors directly rather than to the Midoc company. It was negotiated by the HSE, local GPs and Irish Medical Organisation who are understood to be in talks to find a long term solution. The interim deal lasts until Febuary.