GPs across the midwest have reinstated a voluntary embargo on co-operating with the HSE's new primary care team networks until the Shannondoc co-op funding issue is satisfactorily resolved.
The embargo, which was relaxed in February, has been reinstated by individual co-op GPs in North Tipperary and counties Limerick and Clare - despite an IMO commitment to participate in the teams.
A HSE West spokesman said the only losers from the "so called voluntary embargo" were the GPs themselves and their patients in the midwest area.
The row between Shannondoc and the HSE centres on funding to cover "red eye" costs and the vital expansion of the service to Limerick city. The out-of-hours co-op, which comprises 126 GPs, rejected an initial offer of €200,000 from the HSE in response to the group's statement of claim for €1.2 million.
The HSE spokesman claimed last week that the correct figure for total funding proposed for the co-op in 2007 was, in fact, €5.675 million compared with €3.698 million for 2006, an overall increase of 50 per cent.
The chairman of Shannondoc, Dr Brendan Thornton, said the co-op members were "hopping mad" at this claim and they had accused the HSE of creative accounting.
"The HSE is portraying a 50 per cent increase in funding when up to half of the figure of €5.675 million is to cover unpaid and due bills, including a Labour Court award going back over a year or so, national pay award agreements and monies for a sample contract which has nothing to do with the work of Shannondoc per se. They're playing fast and loose with figures," he claimed.
Dr Courtney pointed out that funding of €2.4 million was required to complete the expansion of Shannondoc and they were still being left €1.2 million short.
The HSE spokesman denied that there was any creative accounting going on.
"Our funding package for 2007 has been outlined clearly as we agreed to do and we await the co-op's response in the normal manner," he said.
It is understood that the HSE has contacted Shannondoc again this week and the co-op members are willing to go back to the table and discuss the matter further. Mr Courtney said he was hopeful the discussions would lead to a satisfactory resolution.
