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HSE due to meet NEDOC Chair next week over upcoming cut to services

Jun 24, 2022 16:43 By News Northern Sound
HSE due to meet NEDOC Chair next week over upcoming cut to services
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Deputy Tully says NEDOC "has tried to engage with the HSE but it has refused to engage".

The HSE is due to meet with the chair of NEDOC next week over a cut to services which is due to take effect in August.

It follows claims the HSE "refused to engage" with NEDOC.

Local TD Pauline Tully raised the issue with the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, in the Dáil yesterday.

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She said "from early August, NEDOC will implement a reduced service where out-of-hours care to patients on a face-to-face basis will be provided until 10.30 pm on weekdays, and 10 pm at weekends."

Thereafter, she added, there will be no in-person appointments or home visits provided.

Deputy Tully said the "changes are as a result of acute doctor shortages and underfunding of the service by the HSE", which the "HSE has been aware of for some years".

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She further claimed that NEDOC has "has tried to engage with the HSE but it has refused to engage".

Leo Varadkar, who used to work with NEDOC in Navan and Drogheda, said it "was a very good service" and added that "as much as possible, these services should operate 24-7".

He confirmed that he "understands" it to be primarily a "funding issue, although the availability of doctors is an issue too".

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Varadkar added that "we asked the Minister for Health to engage on this with the HSE to see if it can be resolved".

And in a statement to Northern Sound News, a HSE spokesperson said the "HSE Midlands Louth Meath CHO last week offered to meet with the Chairman of NEDOC, and a meeting is scheduled to take place next week".

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