Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays, urgent GP care comes from a network of regional co-operatives. Here's how they work, what they cost, which one covers your area, and when you should head to an injury unit or A&E instead.
When your own GP surgery is closed, you phone your regional out-of-hours GP co-operative. A nurse or GP triages the call and decides what happens next: advice over the phone, an appointment at a treatment centre, or — less commonly — a home visit. You don't simply walk in; ringing first is the system. The service is staffed by GPs and is the right route for problems that can't wait until morning but aren't emergencies.
Coverage is organised by area. The main co-ops include:
| Service | Broad area covered |
|---|---|
| D-Doc | Dublin |
| Caredoc | South-east and parts of the midlands (Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Laois and others) |
| NEDOC | North-east (Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan) |
| Shannondoc | Mid-west (Clare, Limerick, north Tipperary) |
| Westdoc | West (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon) |
| NoWDOC | North-west (Donegal and the north-west) |
| SouthDoc | Cork and Kerry |
| MIDOC / KDOC and others | Midlands and Kildare areas |
Service names and exact boundaries change over time. The reliable way to find your number is to call your own GP surgery — the closed-surgery answering message almost always gives the out-of-hours number — or check the HSE's urgent-care information.
There's usually a fee for an out-of-hours consultation — often in the region of €50–€70, sometimes more for a home visit — unless you hold a medical card or GP visit card, in which case it's free. Confirm the fee when you ring.
Right for out-of-hours: high temperatures, infections, severe pain, vomiting, ear and throat infections, suspected chest infections, medication issues, and similar problems that genuinely can't wait but aren't emergencies.
Not for out-of-hours: broken bones, deep cuts, sprains and minor burns are usually better handled at an injury unit. And anything life-threatening — chest pain, stroke signs, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing — is a 999/112 or A&E situation, not a GP call.
Injury units vs A&E in Ireland — where to go for what →
How to see a doctor in Ireland — all your options →