The HSE has claimed issues relating to the relocation of the Letterkenny Unit are separate to the ongoing review of the overall service.
It has been claimed that staff in Letterkenny NoWDOC were told on Tuesday evening via text message that they would have to vacate their current building at Oldtown, Letterkenny as the lease is running out and is not being renewed.
The driver and doctor are expected to relocate to a hub at St Conal’s Hospital Letterkenny, however accommodation for up to 60 other staff members including nurses, administration, call handlers and cleaners has not yet been found prompting concerns for their jobs.
The accommodation issues come as concerns have previously been raised about the future of the service as it is believed changes to the out-of-hours service in the North-West could see Caredoc, who supply GPs for the NowDoc service, taking over the service in Donegal.
However, the HSE has moved to allay fears and have claimed that the accommodation issues are a ‘separate and distinct process’ to the ongoing review with regard to the current operating model of GP OOH Service which is managed and delivered by the HSE (NoWDOC) as part of a hybrid model, with Caredoc providing the GPs for the delivery of care.
They said with regard to the accommodation review, they received a notice requesting vacation of the existing building at Oldtown, Letterkenny which has resulted in the HSE having to expedite plans to secure alternative suitable accommodation from which the services can continue to operate effectively and safely in the town.
In a statement, the HSE they said, “Throughout 2022, as part of a wider accommodation review the HSE has been working to identify an alternative location from which NoWDOC can be delivered safely and would meet the requirements of the service.
“As part of this ongoing accommodation review, phase 1 was to identify suitable alternative accommodation to transfer the GP out of hours clinics in line with current Infection Control advice which recommends a separation of clinical & administration areas.
“Timely renovation works underway in the Errigal Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Hub in Letterkenny are now affording the HSE the opportunity to explore the relocation of the GP OOH clinical service to this location.
“Phase 2 will incorporate the Nurse Triage and Administrative elements of the service in the Letterkenny area with other HSE services.
“NoWDOC staff will continue to be updated of developments and will be offered supports to facilitate this required transition to alternative accommodation.
“We remain committed in engaging with all relevant stakeholders and a time defined communication plan will be implemented to ensure communities, patients and staff are informed of the change as necessary.
“The HSE wish to clarify that this is a separate and distinct process to the ongoing review with regard to the current operating model of GP OOH Service which is managed and delivered by the HSE (NoWDOC) as part of a hybrid model, with Caredoc providing the GPs for the delivery of care.”
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