The HSE has published the first national review of GP Out of Hours Services around the country since the commencement of publicly funded GP Cooperatives in 1999. The report found that there were almost 1 million contacts with GP out of hours services in 2008 and that patient satisfaction is rated at over 90% for the majority of the out of hours services.
The review examined the 9 GP co-operatives across the country which provide an evening/nighttime, weekend and bank holiday GP service to patients and the 4 extended hours services in Dublin (see below). The development of the service over the 10 year period (1999 – 2009) has led to a successful and highly significant quality initiative for patient care. The report was conducted to review the local arrangements that have developed over this 10 year period to see what works well for patients and to identify where greater value for money can be achieved to ensure the continued provision of service and the development of the service in parts of the country which do not currently have a GP out of hours service.
Read or download the report at the pdf link to the right.
