INISHOWEN TD, Pádraig
MacLochlainn has vowed to resist any proposals to
lessen the NowDoc service in Inishowen and elsewhere
in rural Donegal.
Deputy MacLochlainn said he understood that Donegal
GPs are currently working up proposals to deliver
what they refer to as the 'red eye shift' or the
12pm to 8am shift centrally from Letterkenny.
The TD said: “At the recent meeting between HSE
managers in Donegal and the local Oireachtas and HSE
forum members, I made it clear that any such
proposals will be strongly resisted. All the
politicians present went on to express similar
sentiments. The reality is that the people of
Inishowen have compromised already by accepting
NowDoc and any suggestion that these services would
be further centralised in Letterkenny from 12pm to
8am is just not on.
“The HSE managers have agreed to bring this matter
back before the local Oireachtas and HSE forum
members before making any decision. However they are
fully aware of our outright opposition to this
proposal and we are not going to be convinced that
the people of rural Inishowen and Donegal can have
their out of hours emergency GP service adequately
delivered from Letterkenny only.
"What is even more remarkable is that HSE management
are asking local GPs not to refer patients to
Letterkenny Accident and Emergency Department unless
absolutely necessary in order to alleviate
overcrowding and pressure on the hospital at a time
of cutbacks.
"How centralising the NowDoc service to Letterkenny
from 12pm to 8am is going to assist that plan is
beyond me." The Buncrana-based TD added: “The NowDoc
service cannot be allowed to be eroded and the HSE
and the GPs in Donegal will have to find a solution
to their differences over financing the out of hours
services that does not impact on patients services
and the rights of our rural people." |
