Public Accounts Committee to be asked to investigate MIDOC collapse

Local Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley is to request the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to investigate the withdrawal of services by MIDOC.

As Chairperson of PAC he has signallled his intention of requesting a thorough examination of the funding model, the structure and the mechanisms for accountability that have been, or are still in place.

The withdrawal of this out of hours G P service on Christmas Eve requires further examination. The decision by this private company, which has been in receipt of significant sums of public money, has put a further question mark over how out of hours GP services are provided in this State" said Deputy Stanley.

In pointing out that six different models of private cover are used across the country to provide an Out of Hours GP service, Deputy Stanley said this "ad-hoc approach is not sustainable."

The Laois/Offaly Sinn Fein Deputy has engaged with senior HSE management regarding alternative cover to replace MIDOC and has been assured that interim measures are in place up to mid-January with the option to extend this arrangement with a third party. He has also been assured that the HSE are actively pursuing other options.

"However, In the longer term we need to move to a proper public out of hours service that is staffed by doctors employed directly by the HSE” he said.