Low-cost telephone helplines and internet services will operate by the end of 2003, as part of the new, 24-hour access to medical care envisaged in the Primary Healthcare Plan, writes Caroline O'Doherty.
Evaluations of two pilot out-of-hours GP co-operatives operating in the South Eastern and North Eastern Health Board areas show over 50 per cent of patient concerns and queries could be addressed to the patient's satisfaction by administering advice and reassurance over the phone.
Initially, each co-operative will operate a locall 1850 number, giving direct access to a triage nurse who will decide if the problem requires urgent medical assistance, an appointment or just advice to the caller.
As the co-operatives expand to become multi-disciplinary primary care teams, the triage nurse will also be able to draw on the expertise of on-call pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, midwives and other specialists.
Each co-operative will also maintain a website and e-mail service to deal with non-urgent queries and to keep patients informed about services.
As the teams develop, the websites will expand to offer a wide range of information on services, supports, and entitlements and the personnel on the team. It is also intended to provide information on diet, exercise, prevention of illness, developments in disease research and new treatments, and care of minor and chronic conditions.