Move to 4x4s kept Westdoc on the road through snow and ice

By FIONA McGARRY THE out-of-hours GP service Westdoc has been exceptionally busy during the recent cold snap, helping to ensure that public health nurses and home helps got to remote areas of North Galway. [private] Thanks to investment in recent years in four-wheel drive vehicles, Westdoc was able to lend its fleet and drivers who were able to respond to some of the most challenging driving conditions seen in the region in living memory. This move towards sturdier vehicles has proved beneficial in the recent cold snaps. Over the holiday period, Westdoc has been able to transport HSE staff to remote rural locations or around housing estates in towns which would be inaccessible to a standard car. While Westdoc primarily operates as an out-of-hours GP service, it also operates a transportation service for GP laboratory specimens on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE) West. Westdoc's flexible operation means that it can make its resources available at times that work well for the HSE nursing and home help staff. 'Westdoc staff travel the roads of the West of Ireland day after day and we appreciate the difficulties the current cold spell has caused for the older, immobile and vulnerable members of the community,' said Siobhan O'Sullivan, Manager of Westdoc. 'Westdoc is delighted to work together with other health service staff to provide an efficient and effective option that ensures much needed services that can only be provided to patients in their own homes are delivered in a timely manner.  I would like to pay tribute to the dedication of the Westdoc drivers and office team who have worked so hard to make this happen.' Westdoc will be covering the three public holidays during this holiday season, in addition to its usual evening and weekend service. The normal range of services will be provided, as deemed medically appropriate, including free nurse advice. Westdoc is reminding members of the public that the service is by appointment only. Patients of Westdoc GP members who require urgent or emergency GP care should phone Westdoc on their lo-call number, 1850-365000. Where possible, however, patients should contact their own GP, who will be running surgeries over the Christmas period. Management of the service is continuing to urge people not to clog up the service with non-urgent or routine requests, which can easily wait until their own GP surgery re-opens. The Health Service Executive (HSE) West is advising people to make themselves aware of which days their own GP will be working over the Christmas period, and to stock up on medicine cabinet basics such as paracetamol, antihistamines and bandages, to treat minor illnesses or injuries. Over the holiday period, Westdoc is providing GP cover from 6 pm to 9 pm daily until Tuesday, January 4. It is providing 24-hour cover from New Year's Day to Monday, January 3, inclusive. There are more than 130 GPs signed up to Westdoc in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and the number of calls to the service can double during the holiday period.[/private]