Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2022
645. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the number of GP resources and funding allocated to out-of-hours urgent GP care in the recent winter service plan for 15,000 patients in areas (details supplied) currently outside of the Westdoc GP co-op. [53132/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWestdoc co-operative provides out-of-hours GP services in Community Healthcare West, covering counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. Westdoc coverage however does not extend to certain rural areas within the region, where out-of-hours GP services have been provided instead by local doctors. It is acknowledged that the provision of out-of-hours services in such areas can be difficult and onerous on those GPs.
The HSE Winter Plan 2022/23 provides an additional €10 million in funding to support general practice including GP out-of-hours services for the upcoming winter period. However, following consultations with the HSE, funding for supports on a permanent basis are to be provided for the area concerned. Initially, this will cover an element of red-eye, weekend cover and weekend nights, at a cost of approximately €436,000.
