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

A short term deal is understood to have been struck that will see GPs from Laois and other Midland counties continue to provide out-of-hours services but the GP company that runs the service will cease to exist from January 1.

While the HSE or the GPs have yet to confirm the details of any agreement, Laois Offaly GP Seán Fleming issued a statement on December 30 just over 24 hours before Midoc GP Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) ceases to exist.

He said that "extensive discussions" between the HSE, local GPs and Irish Medical Organisation have ensured that the current out of hours GP service "will continue as normal".

However, he also confirmed that talks to guarantee that people in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath have an out-of-hours family doctor urgent care service in the long term are some way off an agreement. He encouraged all sides to work on a long term package.

"However, I am urging all parties to continue their discussions to ensure that we secure an out of hours GP service that works best for the public and medical practitioners.

"In summary, any threat to the service for Laois and the Midlands has been averted, but work on the provision of future services is ongoing," he said.

The problems with Midoc entered the public domain after Laois Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan called for the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to intervene on Christmas Eve.

"I am pleased temporary measures have been set in place to avert a crisis after I raised the issue on Christmas Eve. Permanent solutions need to be found as soon as possible," he said. 

The interim solution will not prevent the closure of the GP controlled Midoc company. Its website has already ceased to operate. The homepage has a simple message advising people with urgent out of hours medical requirement that cannot wait to be dealt with by your usual GP to call 1800 302 702. For medical emergencies the message advises people to please call the ambulance services on 999 or 112

A Laois GP source involved with Midoc, confirmed that the interim agreement will run until February. The doctor also confirmed that the talks would continue to ensure 'a sustainable future'. 

That future will not involve Midoc GP CLG. The GP source confirmed that the company would cease trading on January 1 as had been confirmed by the HSE in a statement issued on Christmas Eve. The doctor said it has yet to be established if a replacement out-of-hours model for Laois and the midlands would involve a new company or be publicly run.

Midoc has issued no statement on the latest developments or the decision to wind up the company on January 1.

It was the HSE statement on Christmas Eve that confirmed Midoc was ceasing trading in the face of financial challenges. These challenges were not explained. It is understood there were some difficulties with the involvement of a company that was indirectly involved in the operation of Midoc. Extensive talks had already taken place to maintain the service with one source saying that there was optimism that Midoc could continue just days before it was revealed that it would cease to exist.

The HSE said it had engaged a third party agency, that has already been providing medical support to Midoc, to provide appropriate cover for until 15 January 2023 based on normal and scheduled GP out-of-hours practice and rosters while the HSE confirms an alternative provider. 

It is not clear is a third party agency will be retained by the HSE as has been envisaged. A source said that GPs in the midlands will not be paid directly by the HSE to provide out of hours services.

Midoc has operated since 2002 when it was set up by Laois GPs in response to the need or a sustainable out-of-hours service for the Midlands. Many of the costs are borne by the HSE including the running of treatment centres in Portlaoise, Tullamore, Mullingar and Longford. THE MESSAGE ON THE MIDOC SITE WHICH IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL.

Midoc was set up at a time when a number of such services were established by doctors in partnership with the HSE around Ireland.