‘Stop playing chess with the lives of Longford people’

There are growing calls this week for government leaders to step in and ensure the recent Midoc controversy is never repeated.

Fine Gael councillor and long-standing health campaigner, Peggy Nolan, said there was an onus on the State to safeguard the health requirements of Longford's 46,000 plus citizens.

That rallying cry came after a privately owned company behind the administration of Midoc, an out of hours GP service, ceased trading on New Year's Day.

In a bid to plug that gap and avert a public outcry, HSE chiefs have secured a third party to take over the running of the service under a new name and until a more permanent solution is reached.

Cllr Nolan, however, has called on power brokers inside Leinster House to underpin Longford's healthcare service and make sure controversies similar to those over Christmas week are not repeated.

“Every county has a similar service to Midoc, only that they operate under different names,” she said.

“The fact it (out of hour service) is privatised is another scandal and while I have been told it will be a seamless changeover, our A&E departments, staff and GPs are at breaking point.

“How it could be let get to stage at the eleventh hour where it (GP out of hours service) could have fallen is quite simply shameful.”

Cllr Nolan said given Longford was the sole county among a regional service that also comprised Laois, Offaly and Westmeath without a designated hospital, the necessity for government intervention was clear.

“Those three other counties all have hospitals in their area, we have nothing,” she said.

“That's why we must be prioritised. Stop playing chess with the lives of people in this county.”