Midoc Christmas hours announced

Midoc, the out of hours emergency GP service in the midland region, will cover the three public holidays between Christmas and New Year in addition to its normal evening and weekend service. A statement from the HSE this week has asked potential patients to be mindful however that the service is only for patients who need urgent GP medical care and cannot wait for the next routine surgery. Midoc can be contacted by calling 1850 302 702. The Midoc service hours will remain as normal from 6pm in the evening until 8am in the morning and full time on Saturday and Sunday until Christmas Day, December 25. On December 25 and 26 a Midoc service will be offered all hours. Normal service hours will resume on December 27, when Midoc will be available from 6pm until 8am the next morning. The Midoc service will offer an all hours service on January 1, with normal hours resuming once more on January 2. To assist Midoc in providing the best quality service users are asked to have the following information available: the patient's name, a contact telephone number, the current location of the patient, the patient's date of birth or age, the name of the patient's own family doctor, the patient's medical card number if applicable and details of the patient's current medication list. If callers suspect a patient is in immediate danger they should say so as soon as the call is answered and then follow instructions given to them. Members of the public are asked not to call Midoc for routine matters that can wait until normal surgery hours. The HSE has also suggested that prescriptions are filled to ensure patients have medication to cover the holiday season, and that medicine cabinets and first aid boxes are stocked.