Cork East TD Seán Sherlock has called for a clear, unambiguous timeline to be established to reopen SouthDoc Services in Fermoy following the closure of dedicated Covid-19 wards in CUH at the weekend.
Speaking this week to The Avondhu, Deputy Sherlock said: “I have made a submission to the Minister for Health to ask when a clear timetable for the resumption of SouthDoc services for Fermoy and Mitchelstown will be announced.
“Since mid-March this decision has caused a lot of angst for people. As a part funder of the service, the HSE should communicate with the board of SouthDoc to identify a timeline to reopen.”
‘Temporary’ measure
On Friday, March 13 it was revealed that the Southdoc unit in Fermoy would close, and that the services would be redeployed to Mallow, a decision which came in for widespread condemnation.
Despite an assurance from Dr Joanne Montgomery, director on the Southdoc Board, that the measure would be temporary, many remain sceptical about the services reinstatement.
“The decision to close services temporarily raised more questions than it answered. People in North Cork deserve to know when SouthDoc will reopen.
“Sending people to Mallow for out of hours services might be appropriate now, but if the Covid virus recedes then people will need to see normal services restored.”
