GPs ‘refused to invest’ in SouthDoc

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.

Yesterday, former SIPTU branch secretary for Kerry, Donie Doody, told the tribunal that he had written to the doctors in 2009 asking them to pay a contribution, but that “they said they wouldn’t”.

The co-op, which serves a population of more than 600,000 in Cork and Kerry, is fully funded by the HSE. In 2011, the co-op received HSE grants worth €7.65m.