Staffing Crisis At SouthDoc Deepens In Cork

The service sent an urgent text message to GPs requesting them to contact the service if they were available to work the nightshift


The staffing crisis at SouthDoc, which RedFM News has been highlighting all week has deepened, leaving Cork services understaffed last night. 

The service sent an urgent text message to GPs requesting them to contact the service if they were available to work the night shift. 

The text, which said that no contracted doctor was available last night, follows concerns that visa restrictions imposed on doctors from outside the EU are leading to a staffing crisis. 

Under the current arrangements, doctors from outside Europe are granted a 90 day visa, after which time they must leave the country and reapply for the permit- in a process which could take up to two months.

In a statement issued to RedFM News, the Department of Justice says it is up to individual organisations to decide on the most appropriate person to hire based on their needs. 

Speaking to RedFM News, medical Director of SouthDoc Dr Gary Stack says its possible that some SouthDoc centres could face closure: 
 

More from Cork