Calls to provide more resources to Limerick Doc as staff are being 'run ragged'
A LIMERICK councillor is urging the HSE to provide funding to support the Limerick Doc medical service in Limerick city after it was “run ragged” over the Christmas period.
Councillor Catherine Slattery brought forward a motion for consideration at the January meeting of the Metropolitan District.
The motion asked that the local authority write to the HSE asking it to upgrade the service as it is “not a satisfactory service for its users.”
Based at Crescent Court, Dooradoyle Limerick Doc is privately-operated GP practice that provides a 24/7 'out-of-hours' service.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Slattery commented: “To my knowledge, there is one GP and one receptionist based in Dooradoyle seven nights a week from 5pm to 8am.”
She added that “for a large city, this is not acceptable given the number of users of Limerick Doc.
With current respiratory illnesses rising, Cllr Slattery stated that Limerick Doc is “run ragged and simply cannot cope with the amount of calls for this service.”
While she agrees that Limerick Doc is doing a fantastic job considering the lack of facilities, she added: “At present, one GP and one receptionist cannot cater for the people of Limerick. We are being asked not to present to UHL unless it is life threatening, but yet we cannot access an out of hours service easily. I feel it is a person’s human right to medical treatment and to be able to easily access an out of hours doctor.
A reply is awaited in relation to the motion.