Laois councillor reveals her ordeal to get doctor's appointment with MIDOC

A Laois councillor is claiming that some patients are being refused appointments by MIDOC, the HSE approved GP out-of-hours service, leaving them no option but to go to Portlaoise's hospital A&E despite flu warnings.

Cllr Marie Tuohy of the Portlaoise Municipal District, spoke about her own negative experience, at the January 2026 meeting of Laois County Council.

"You ring them and the first person takes your details and GP. The next stage is you get a call from a nurse to triage you. You may not get a call because if your GP is not on the rota you won't get a call. 

"I experienced this. My call took 23 minutes. On the day I insisted, I said 'so you are refusing me an appointment, on what basis? Can I speak to the manager or person in charge?'. No. 'Could I have that person's name?'. No. I said 'I'm not letting this go. I am going to go public on this'".

"If you are a patient that's immuno compromised, or if you are living alone, or feeling very unwell and haven't the energy to go through a 23 minute call, I just think its a catch 22, the HSE can't have it both ways. They can’t advise you to use the out of hours service and stay out of A&E, but then you’re being blocked. It's not up to the patient to identify if their GP is part of it," she said.

Cllr Tuohy said that she "held on" and got an appointment, and met another patient in the waiting room with a similar issue.

"A lady there had a six year very sick with asthma. She had also insisted and got through," Cllr Tuohy said.

She said "if you are lucky enough to have a GP, you don't ask are they on the MIDOC rota. They'll say your own GP should have an out of hours service, but that's not up to me. I'm asking for clarity.

"A person is trying to do the right thing and avoid the A&E because of the Covid and flu oubreaks, is refused an appointment, it's crazy," she said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley supported a motion that Cllr Tuohy tabled. It asks the council through its representatives on the Dublin and Midlands Regional Health Body, to establish what protocols are in operation for the out of hours GP services for Laois, "to ensure patient safety and sufficient access to services such as MIDOC at weekends".

Cllr Dwane Stanley also wants a list of what Laois GPs are part of MIDOC.

"What an awful experience to go through. I was shocked, particularly at a time when the A&Es are calling for people not to attend, due to the outbreak of flu. If you have a GP you could be waiting two weeks for an appointment," she said.

Other councillors at the meeting registered their shock at the refusal.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy said "I'm absolutely shocked. I though when you were sick and no doctor is available you could go to MIDOC. If someone vulnerable rings, this could end in awful circumstances," he said.

"This is horrific, I was there before Christmas and had no problem. A lot of people can't get a doctor, or be in any doctor's practice. We have a huge problem in Portlaoise that we don't have enough GPS. Jesus you've shocked me," Cllr Paddy Buggy said.

Midoc says it provides urgent out-of-hours medical services to patients whose family doctor is part of the Midoc Laois co-op, when their GP surgery is closed. The number is 1800 302 702. Appointments are required and are free for people with medical or GP visit cards, and otherwise cost €70. Anyone with a medical emergency is advised to instead call 112 or 999. Midoc is not for routine medical problems such as repeat prescriptions, test results, medical certificates or employment medicals. 

HSE RESPONSE

The HSE Dublin and Midlands told the the Leinster Express / Laois Live that every GP is obliged to be part of an out of hours on call service.

"Under the terms of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GMS GPs are required to provide out-of-hours services to patients on their panels. In the Midlands, this service is delivered through the GP Out-of-Hours Service (MIDOC) for counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

"The service operates from 6pm to 8am, Monday to Friday, and on a 24/7 basis at weekends and public holidays. It is managed on behalf of participating GPs in Laois by the SLA provider, SláinteDoc.

"While the service model is designed to support participating GPs within each area, patients from outside the region are not refused appointments solely because their GP is not participating in the local rota. Where patients are visiting the area, they are generally accommodated and issued with an appointment.

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"In some cases, patients may be advised to contact their own out-of-hours service. This is to ensure continuity of care, as their own GP will automatically receive a copy of the medical notes from any out-of-hours attendance, facilitating appropriate follow-up where required," the spokesperson said.