NEDOC provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Meath and Louth (excluding Dundalk & environs). The service is exceptionally busy during the Christmas season and at this particular time with higher levels of respiratory illness in circulation.
Much respiratory illness in children can be managed at home with over-the-counter medications. However, NEDOC should be contacted in the case of children whose condition deteriorates following home measures or who are very lethargic or experiencing difficulties. For adults or older children experiencing common cold symptoms, such as low fever, cough, sore throat – those symptoms are self-limiting and can for the most part be managed at home with help from www.undertheweather.ie or www.hse.ie/winter
Patients with urgent medical concerns that arise when their own GP surgery is closed should contact NEDOC on 1800 777 911. However, in the event of an emergency or if your situation deteriorates, you should contact the emergency services immediately on 112 or 999.
NEDOC’s arrangements for Christmas 2023 are as follows:
NEDOC will be busy during this time and patients will face delays getting through to the service, or waiting for an appointment and we ask for your patience at this time.
Patients should not to walk into a centre without an appointment, as they will be told to ring 1800 777 911 so their call can be triaged by a nurse, and if appropriate a GP consultation will be arranged at the next available time slot.
GP surgeries will be open as normal on Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th and Friday 29th.
Over the Christmas period, the call centre is exceptionally busy especially during early morning times. Callers may experience delays in getting through or getting their call answered but are asked to be patient. The details requested from the experienced call taker are necessary and enable the service to treat the patient according to their medical need.
Patients will receive a call back from an experienced triage nurse. Emergency cases are passed directly to the nurse for immediate attention. Following a telephone assessment, the Nurse will decide the most appropriate level of care. This may conclude with advice over the telephone, a request to attend a treatment centre to see a doctor or arrange a house call or advice to attend the Emergency Department. Where an emergency arises, the nurse will arrange ambulance transport. If the triage nurse advises hospital care, this advice should be taken immediately rather than facing further delays in your care.
Patients who do not have a medical card or GP visit card are charged a fee of €70 for a GP consultation, whether in person or by phone.
The HSE is reminding people that have Covid 19 symptoms of the necessity to isolate themselves from everyone and take an antigen test. For more information https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/
