Laois TD claims a family member ended up in hospital over Midoc 'collapse'

Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley claims a relative ended up in hospital at Christmas because it was not possible to see a GP due to the problems at Midoc.

The Sinn Féin TD told the HSE's Chief Executive and other top managers about the experience in the Dáil. He outlined the episode which he said coincided with the decision by midlands doctors to pull the plug on the company that provided GPs to Midoc.

"The problem is that we are left with a collapse in essential services at the same time that emergency departments and hospitals are overloaded. A member of my family needed to see a doctor but finished up in an Accident and Emergency unit and in hospital for six days.

"They would not have needed to be in hospital for six days had their condition been caught in time over the Christmas period. This is the kind of difficulty being caused," insisted the Sinn Féin TD.

Stephen Mulvany, HSE CEO, did not comment on the situation outlined but insisted that the out-of-hours service, which costs up to €8 million to run, had not collapsed.

He admitted that an interim solution is in place to find a new way to provide doctors to people in Laois and other Midland counties out of hours but the did agree with Dep Stanley who described the situation as 'convoluted'. He also said GPs are contractually obliged to provide out-of-hours care to their patients. 

GPs have HSE 'over a barrel' on out-of-hours care in Laois and Midlands claims TD

The Laois TD said GPs and private companies have the HSE 'over the barrel' adding that they can 'pull the plug' if they do not get sufficient cash.

Midoc GP CLG ceased trading just before Christmas 2022. At the time the HSE said it was due to 'financial challenges'.