Patients who do not have a family doctor and are relying on out-of-hours GP services are at risk of their treatment not being safely monitored, doctors have warned.
Some out-of-hours services are struggling so much with increased demand they may no longer be able to accept patients who have no GP.
The National Association of GP Co-ops has written to the HSE warning that 10% of the population does not have a GP.
“We cannot see how we can any longer accommodate the increasing numbers of patients who have been unable to register with a member GP,” they said.
“There cannot be an expectation by the HSE that these patients will be managed in the GP OOH services; it is unsafe for the patients and for treating doctors due to the lack of continuity of care and the inability to co-ordinate follow-up.”
They warned this is “undoubtedly adding to A&E referral.”
Southdoc in Cork and Kerry said they share these concerns but do not plan to stop treating these patients.
Medical director Dr Gary Stack said: “There is still here a significant issue with patients trying to find GP practices by day, and patients who need investigations is a big issue.”
Southdoc cannot refer patients for a scan.
“Even if we could refer, where is the result going to go if the patient doesn’t have a GP? It creates clinical concerns, certainly,” he said.
The letter, first reported by the Medical Independent, expresses frustration about promised meetings with the HSE and Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS).
“The main issue is we have been promised engagement, by the Minister, with the PCRS and the HSE and that is going back to last Easter. That has not happened,” he said.
HSE Cork/Kerry Community Healthcare said they are aware services wish to meet HSE national management on these issues.
The out-of-hours service for Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary shares these concerns.
“Shannondoc has not changed their model of care,” a spokesman said.
“The patients who are not registered with a GP in theory should not be seen by OOH Services such as ShannonDoc however no patients have been denied access.”
They are working with HSE Midwest Community Healthcare to prepare for increased demand. The HSE said they run GP Pop-up Clinics for refugees from Ukraine and can help hospital patients find a GP.
The Irish Medical Organisation said: "We have received a guarantee from the Department of Health that this area will be an area of focus in the upcoming strategic review of general practice and subsequent contract negotiations with the IMO."
