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.
Have the basics ready: your Eircode or address, phone number, date of birth, usual GP practice, medical-card or GP-visit-card details if you have them, current medicines, allergies, and a short description of the problem. If you do not know which service covers your area, phone your own GP surgery outside normal hours; the recorded message usually gives the local out-of-hours number. You can also use the HSE urgent-care finder to search for GP out-of-hours services.
Do not wait for a GP callback if symptoms are life-threatening. Chest pain, signs of stroke, severe breathing difficulty, severe bleeding, collapse, serious head injury, or a rapidly worsening emergency is a 999/112 call or Emergency Department situation.
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.
Out-of-hours GP is for urgent GP problems when your normal surgery is closed. It is not a cheaper evening version of a routine appointment. If the issue is daytime and listed under Pharmacy First, a participating pharmacist may be more direct. If the issue is routine and does not need examination, an online doctor may be enough. If there is a physical injury, use an injury unit or urgent-care route. This matters because each service is designed for a different problem, and using the wrong one can add delay and cost.
Injury units vs A&E in Ireland — where to go for what →
How to see a doctor in Ireland — all your options →