Leitrim NoWDOC hours could be halved according to potential HSE plan

Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has expressed alarm at potential HSE plans to cut NoWDOC services at Carrick-on-Shannon and move them to Sligo Caredoc. Among the options explored in a recent HSE consultation document is the suspension of the out-of-hours service in Carrick on Shannon at midnight each night, resulting in a reduction of cover from 118 hours to 62 hours per week.

Addressing Junior Health Minister Mary Butler in the Dáil, Deputy Harkin referred to the consultation document examining GP out-of-hour services in Donegal and South Leitrim, “there is a real possibility, even probability, that out-of-hours calls would be, first of all diverted to a centre in Carlow, and then the out-of-hour services in Carrick-on-Shannon would be diverted to Sligo after midnight. It is very clear from the options presented in this document that if this goes ahead, in a few years’ time, rural areas, particularly South Leitrim and North Roscommon will not be well served,” she said.

“As of now, the NoWDOC out-of-hours GP service covers just over 70% of the week, operating Monday to Friday from 6pm to 8am and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. If the service in Carrick-on-Shannon is to finish at midnight, any client that requires the out-of-hours GP service would have to be directed to Caredoc in Sligo, a round trip from Carrick-on-Shannon of 109km or 128km from Ballinamore.

The Deputy told the Minister she is concerned to ensure that an optimum level of care is provided in the NoWDOC area, “It is crucial, Minister, that whatever changes are made must benefit patients, they must provide a safe service, but they must also ensure greater access to healthcare rather than any diminution of services,” she said. “The reason I raised this issue this evening is, first of all to highlight it, and secondly to look for a guarantee from you that there will be no diminution of services under any changes proposed to this service.”

While the Minister sought to reassure Deputy Harkin that the HSE has made no decision in relation to the redesign of the operating model and no decision will be made without the active involvement of relevant stakeholders, Deputy Harkin was not reassured.

“Minister, I suppose what I'm concerned about is that we may end up at a point where the service is not designed to suit the people but that it's designed the other way around and people may have to travel long distances to access healthcare in order to suit the service,” she said. “Right now, this is just a proposal and the purpose of raising it in the Dáil is to ensure that it doesn’t become a decision and a plan. I absolutely don't want to see that happen."