NOWDOC Information

As it stands this is the system that operates ( see below) and information is available on the Practice Leaflet available @ Health Centre. After 18.00 each night and at the weekends outside of normal hours to contact Emergency Primary Care Service the 1850 400 911 should be used. This puts you through to a Nurse Triage operator who will take information and prioritise the call. If the caller wishes to speak to a doctor they may choose to do so. The triage breaks down into

1. Telephone Advice.

2. Arrange contact with doctor either phone and or in out of hours centre

3. Arrange house call to patient.

In the case of Arranmore ÊI will be effectively 2nd on call whilst on the island which is most days as it is my residence. In this case if NOWDOC triage feels that the client needs to contact doctor they will ring me and arrange a suitable time etc. In this way I will be effectively the only GP left on call all the time when in his centre of practice. Arranmore is in this sense being treated very favourably especially when compared to other isolated areas of the county and most of the offshore population which have no resident GP cover.

If I am away from the island they may contact Nurse Gallagher who will liaise with the doctor on call in the out of hours centre and decide if the problem can be dealt with. In the event of the patient being ill and it seems necessary for secondary care patients can be transferred as previously. In the event of an elderly person or in a situation where a doctor is required e.g.. Elderly person with strike or pneumonia a doctor can be called in and a second doctor in the West region will replace him in the out of hours centre. It is also still possible for clients to ring Finola directly as she has agreed to accept calls when I am away. The way things where before NOWDOC. Also in emergency services to be contacted as before.

Hence in summary what NOWDOC provides is an additional service to what is already provided.

Kindest Regards

Kevin Quinn