Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
29. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware that no tender is issued for the Southdoc SLA, and that this is renewed without competition annually; and whether she will consider a separate tender for the northside of Cork city given the lack of out-of-hours service provided by Southdoc in the area. [16726/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs contracted under the GMS scheme are required, by their contract, to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them for urgent GP care outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting this contractual requirement.
South-West Doctor-on-Call Limited, known as SouthDoc, provides out of hours GP services for Counties Cork and Kerry. If a patient in Cork City requires care, this will be provided by appointment at either the Blackpool or Kinsale Road Treatment Centre, or by home visit, depending on the patient’s clinical condition as assessed by the consulting doctor. I understand that the Blackpool Treatment Centre remains open Monday to Friday from 6:30pm to 10:00pm for routine appointments. At weekends, patients are seen at the Blackpool Treatment Centre or by the mobile car unit, where clinically appropriate. In the year to date, I am informed by SouthDoc that 1,198 patients have been seen at the Blackpool Treatment Centre.
Although the HSE provides funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements (SLAs), GP out of hours co-operatives are private organisations.
A Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway. The Review is examining the issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, and the financial support model for general practice. The Review will identify the arrangements necessary to be put in place a sustainable general practice model, including out of hours, as part of a primary care focused health service and in line with the Sláintecare vision on access.
The review will provide a report and assessment of the challenges affecting general practice and setting out the actions needed to provide for a more sustainable GP service. Out of hours services are a function of the GP GMS contract, ensuring an effective and integrated service approach across day –time and out of hours GP services. While the review is being completed existing arrangements for the delivery of out of hours services remain in place.
