'We are now at a real pinch point': Southdoc announces new service plans for two Cork facilities
SouthDoc has said that this streamlining of the service is in response to the continuing shortage of GPs and the resultant growing risk of burnout of GPs who continue to provide a daytime service in these areas. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
SouthDoc has announced the introduction of new service development plans for two Cork facilities in what it says is a move to ensure the sustainability of the service into the future.
From next month it says that as part of the realignment of the out-of-hours GP service, its service in Clonakilty is to operate as usual during the week and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm with locum doctor cover otherwise provided from Bandon.
The Macroom service will remain open by appointment only.
There will also be a dedicated home visit division for patients unable to attend a treatment centre.
Changes have also been announced for Listowel in Kerry.
SouthDoc has said that this streamlining of the service is in response to the continuing shortage of GPs and the resultant growing risk of burnout of GPs who continue to provide a daytime service in these areas.
It said it will lead to enlarged SouthDoc rotas for GPs, preventing GP burnout and future-proofing the out-of-hours service.
Speaking about the service enhancement plans, SouthDoc Chairman Dr Andrew Crosbie said: “These changes are essential to maintain a SouthDoc service in these areas.
“The out-of-hours service is operated by member GPs who have increasingly busy day-time practice and this is a particular challenge in rural areas where there has been a significant reduction in the number of GPs over recent decades.
“We are now at a real pinch point and without this realignment, there’s a real risk of us not being able to maintain the service going forward.”
Dr Crosbie said that there were 231,000 patient consultations last year compared to 162,000 patient consultations in 2006, raising concerns that GP numbers are declining despite this significant increase in consultations.
“That’s 40% more appointments with a reduced number of GPs. Some areas are more acute than others and we have to respond accordingly to ensure SouthDoc continues to operate there,” he said.
“Additionally, more than 25% of our GPs are aged over 60 and we are simply not going to be able to attract GPs to replace them in rural areas where there is a greater onus on them for out-of-hours service than in larger urban areas where, because of the greater GP numbers, they will work fewer out-of-hours rotas.
“We have successfully this autumn introduced similar enhancements to bolster our North Cork and West Cork services.
“We have already seen an increase in expressions of interest to join day-time practice in those areas.
“It has allowed us to increase direct employment of doctors, and this, coupled with the additional locum doctor support, will ensure we can continue to deliver our out-of-hours service.
“Over 60% of SouthDoc patients consult with a GP within two hours and more than 80% of patients exit the SouthDoc service within 3 hours of making contact. Without these realignments in North Kerry and Cork, this standard could not be maintained.”
Medical Director of SouthDoc Dr Gary Stack said it is not sustainable to ask busy GPs to take on extra shifts at night and particularly at weekends and said the current out-of-hours work model “is no longer sustainable”.
“Patients will continue to be seen in a safe and timely fashion. We’ve seen this work without issue elsewhere including in North Cork and West Cork so what we are doing is in the best interest of patients and the best interests of sustaining daytime general practice and out-of-hours general practice in this region,” he said.
Southdoc said the enhanced service delivery model will come into effect on January 2, 2024.
App?
