On 15 April, I raised with the Taoiseach this issue about patients of the highly respected Dr. Fiona O'Reilly in the greater Clonakilty surrounds, who are not being seen by SouthDoc after-hours services, due to Dr. O'Reilly discontinuing her membership with SouthDoc. On 23 April, I received what I would call an angry reply from SouthDoc management, telling me that I failed to seek clarification on the issue from the SouthDoc regarding the facts. What South Doc management does not realise is I am a TD and a servant of the people. It is my duty to ask questions in this Dáil on behalf of my constituents, and I will quote facts which are in this letter from SouthDoc management, sent to patients of Dr. O'Reilly stating that this doctor is no longer a member of SouthDoc and it is, therefore, unable to provide out-of-hours consultations or appointments to her patients. It goes on to say that if you have a medical emergency, ring 112 or 999. The people who got these letters, and I got a number of them again today, in the greater Clonakilty area, some were over 80 years of age and more with small children, are extremely upset and worried to think that if they are ill overnight, they are not to contact SouthDoc. We need to find a solution here and it needs to be 100% patient-focused, as I am. The patient should not be caught up in any disagreement between parties. Can the Tánaiste help Dr. O'Reilly's patients resolve this matter with the HSE?

Sentiment score: -0.04