Cross-border, out-of-hours GP service launched
For the first time people living in a border area of the North will be able to access urgent GP out-of-hours services in the Republic, it emerged today.
From Monday anyone living in south Armagh can use urgent GP services in the NEDOC (North Eastern Doc) out-of-hours centre in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The announcement follows a pilot project between Donegal and Derry and the scheme may now be extended along the entire border.
Minister for Health Mary Harney and her counterpart on the Northern Ireland Executive, Michael McGimpsey, welcomed the launch of the project.
Ms Harney said both schemes would be of benefit to patients.
“I am confident that patients in south Armagh will now benefit from being able to avail of urgent out-of-hours services across the border in Castleblayney, which will in many cases provide easier access to treatment closer to their homes.
“An evaluation of the two projects will in due course inform decisions on any expansion or modification of the services”.
Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “The out-of-hours pilots are a good example of effective cross-border co-operation enabling patients to obtain a valuable service closer to their home.”
Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), the cross-border health and social care partnership, secured European Union funds to bring the service on stream.
The areas which will have access to the new service include Crossmaglen, Creggan, Silverbridge, Newtownhamilton, Carrigatuke, Keady, Kileen, Derrynoose, Milford and Killylea.
In January 2007, a similar pilot scheme was launched which allows patients living in border areas of Inishowen, Donegal, to access Northern Ireland GP out-of-hours services in Derry.
Officials said both schemes will be evaluated with a view to extending them along the border.
