Out-of-hours GP service launched in Dublin

An new out-of-hours GP service designed to ease pressure on overcrowded hospitals in north Dublin was launched today.

The D-DOC call centre will provide medical advice from nurses and doctors over the phone for around half a million people in the area.

Run by the Health Service Executive and local GPs, it aims to keep non-urgent patients out of congested A&E units in the Mater and Beaumont hospitals.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern launched the service at the Ballymun Civic Centre.

"The establishment of D-DOC provides not only a welcome alternative to long trips to an acute hospital, but also offers a very efficient and effective urgent care service," he said.

"What really is impressive is the innovation reflected in the D-DOC service such as the provision of a single, easy-to-remember lo-call number for the whole of north Dublin where callers can have their problem assessed immediately on the phone by trained staff.

"This facility, where callers can receive advice from a nurse on the phone, not only can avoid the necessity of having to leave your own home for care and advice but will provide professional advice and reassurance for many older people or parents of sick children who previously had nowhere to turn to after regular working hours.

"This comprehensive service offers great reassurance to the half a million people of north Dublin who will be able to use it."

Phone lines will be open on weekdays from 6pm to 8am, and 24 hours a day at weekends.

If a person urgently needs to see a doctor outside normal surgery hours, they should contact D-DOC on 1850 22 44 77.

Calls will be answered by trained staff who will take details of the illness and personal information. They can then arrange for the person to be seen by a GP at a treatment centre, or offer advice over the phone from a nurse.

Five treatment centres have been set up in Hartstown, Swords, North Strand, Ballymun and Coolock.

GPs have also agreed to do house calls but only in extreme cases.

Professor Brendan Drumm, chief executive of the Health Service Executive, said the real winners will be the patients.

"For too long our community health services have suffered from an over-emphasis on hospitals as the cure for everything and everybody," Professor Drumm said.

"The HSE is setting out to address that imbalance and new services such as this are practical examples of our commitment."

Dr John Delap, speaking on behalf of the GPs involved, said the service was a significant milestone and insisted GPs were 100% committed to its success.

The service is free for Medical Card or GP Visit Card holders.

It began operating late last year and nearly 8,000 people have called. On average 100 people call each day and 17% have taken advice over the phone.