Midoc GP opening hours in Laois and midlands over Christmas and New Year

The HSE is encouraging the public to consider all care options before attending hospital Emergency Departments (ED) to protect our EDs for those patients who need urgent and emergency care.

It says one such option is the out of hours urgent GP service MIDOC which is an appointment only GP service located in counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

The HSE says this service is for patients who need urgent medical attention that cannot wait to be seen by their usual GP.  

Contact with the service can only be made by dialling the 1850 302 702 number.  The service is available to patients of GP’s participating in the MIDOC Out-of-Hours Service.  If, on contacting the service, you need to be seen by a doctor, you will be given an appointment time.

The HSE says that over the past number of years the GP Out of Hours Services have noted a surge in calls on the 26th December (St Stephen’s Day).

"We anticipate that 26th December, 2022 will be extremely busy and people are requested to be patient until their call can be answered," said a statement.

To enable the maintenance a quality service and ensure patients are seen promptly the HSE reminds people to remember the following:

• The service is not a walk-in service. It is by appointment only for those who are seriously unwell.
• The first point of contact with the service is through the 1850 302 702 number.
• The service should only be used for urgent cases that cannot wait for the next routine surgery appointment.
• People are urged to know when their GP surgery will be open/closed during the holiday period.
• People are encouraged to have their medicine cabinets or first aid boxes sufficiently stocked to treat minor ailments at home.

The normal opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 6pm-8am and Saturday/Sunday/Bank Hols: 24 Hours. Telephone: 1800 302 702

Christmas 2022 Arrangements

• MIDOC will be operational during the Christmas period
• from 6pm on Friday, 23rd  December, 2022
• until 8am on Wednesday, 28th December, 2022
•  24th, 25th, 26th & 27th December 2022 – 24 hour service 

New Year Arrangements

• MIDOC will be operational during the New Year period
• from 6pm on Friday, 30th   December, 2022
• until 8am on Tuesday, 3rd January, 2023
• 31st December 2022 and 1st & 2nd January 2023 – 24 Hour Service

The HSE says the message this year from Midoc is to ask people to Self Care by checking their symptoms on the dedicated HSE website www.undertheweather.ie before contacting the service.

For more go to www.midoc.ie