A 15-year-old Junior Cert student from Cork, who had to have both legs amputated below the knee after contracting meningitis when she was three, has sued an out-of-hours family doctor service in relation to her care.

Compensation awarded to a number of SouthDoc staff on foot of a pay cut will not now be paid after the GP co-op successfully appealed the award.

Doctors refused to invest in SouthDoc, an out-of-hours service involving around 500 GPs, despite claims that it was financially “on its knees”, an employment appeals tribunal (EAT) has heard.

A GP co-op that recently claimed to be “on its knees” is facing another budget cut of up to 10% in 2013.

A GP co-op that provides a vital out-of-hours service to more than 600,000 people faces closure if employees pursue a pay claim, the company has warned.