From early August, the North East Doctor on Call service will implement a reduced service where out-of-hours care to patients on a face-to-face basis will be provided until 10.30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. at weekends but, thereafter, there will be no in-person appointments or home visits provided. The changes are as a result of acute doctor shortages and underfunding of the service by the HSE. The HSE has been aware for some years of the issues facing this service and has provided some funding, but it is not sufficient to address the issues. North East Doctor on Call has tried to engage with the HSE to try to find a resolution to continue to provide this vital service but the HSE has refused to engage. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Health to intervene in this situation and ask the HSE to engage with North East Doctor on Call so we can maintain the service?

In the distant past, I used to work in North East Doctor on Call, seeing patients in an old prefab right across from the emergency department in Navan Hospital and also the cottage in Drogheda. It was a very good service, I have to say. I think that, as much as possible, these services should operate 24-7, for reasons we will all understand. I understand this is principally a funding issue, although the availability of doctors is an issue too. We have asked the Minister for Health to engage on this with the HSE to see if it can be resolved.