Co-op GP service set for Waterford
The co-op has received the €800,000 necessary for extending its cover into the remaining county in the SEHB region. The expansion is expected to increase the co-op’s membership to more than 270 GPs.
“We are pleased to say we got the €800,000 to expand into Waterford City and county and we are already working on it,” a visibly delighted Dr Sean McGuire told Medicine Weekly last week.
The chairman and medical director of the co-op added that he would expect all family doctors in Waterford to join. “So far the Local Working Group representing GPs in the area would have us believe that all GPs in the area will be joining.”
The co-op is currently working on establishing call and treatment centres across the region and recruiting staff. GPs, practice nurses, clinical nurses, aides and drivers will man the centres providing out-of-hours service.
“We roughly need three months to prepare so that the service is implemented smoothly,” explained Dr McGuire.
Furthermore, the CAREDOC co-op would embark on an intensive publicity campaign, involving local GPs, who would also be asked to distribute information leaflets to their patients.
The co-op, Dr McGuire said, would also lobby public representatives as well as patient organisations.
CAREDOC, established in 1999 on a pilot basis, now covers the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary and Wexford. It recently extended its cover into south Wicklow via a contract with the ECAHB.
