*Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF). Photograph: Martin Connolly
SENIOR MANAGEMENT of ShannonDoc are being pressed to justify its lack of services in Clare given its current financial standing.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) declared that it was time to invite management of ShannonDoc before the local authority to gain some rationale behind their actions.
“ShannonDoc have received over €5m to cover out its out of hours service in the Mid-West but at the same time, its offices and dispensaries in Killaloe, Shannon and Ennistymon remain closed,” O’Brien commented.
He believed it was time for ShannonDoc management to answer questions at a public meeting with elected representatives. “What services are they providing for the monies they are receiving, I believe they have made an operating profit for the last number of years,” the Killaloe representative remarked.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) said that Cllr O’Brien would have to put the item on the agenda in time for the February siting in order for the local authority to submit the request, “it is very important and it should be put on the clár for the next meeting”.
O’Brien outlined that he would have ensured the item was on the agenda but noted it only “came to light” at the weekend.
In 2020, ShannonDoc recorded an income of €8m, €1.9m of which came from GMS income. This total income was up on the €7.3m of 2019, accounts show.
This income was comprised of, HSE Out-of-Hours (€4,639,883), members’ contributions (€654,433), HSE Specimen Collection: (€258,319), HSE Methadone clinics and psychology services income (€176,297), private patients’ income (€154,384). HSE Other Income (€92,940) and HSE SATU (€49,275).
Calls handled by the company fell by 12% from 112,273 in 2019 to 98,178 in 2020. Income from the General Medical Card service (GMS) rose from €1,050,607 in 2019 to €1,900,655 in 2020.
