Communities in West Clare are being reassured that patients will continue to have face to face contact with doctors if needed, once an out-of-hours teledoc service comes into affect.
A remote video doctor is being introduced in Kilrush in an effort to minimise the impact of falling GP numbers.
It comes as a petition calling for the restoration of the ShannonDoc service is gaining momentum, with almost two thousand signatures so far, while a public meeting is taking place in Kilrush tonight to discuss the declining health service there.
Almost two thousand people have now signed a petition calling for the full restoration of the ShannonDoc service, after a decision was taken to scale it back, due to falling numbers of GPs.
In an effort to minimise the impact of the cuts, a remote video doctor is being introduced in Kilrush, allowing the office to remain open for two hours on week nights, with support from a doctor based in Miltown Malbay.
The service has been run sucessfully in 98 countries worldwide, and in this country in Dublin.
Chairman of ShannonDoc, Dr Pat Morrissey insists face to face access to a GP will be possible when it's needed.
The Kilrush centre will remain open with patients being assessed by a nurse, who will determine whether the patient can be examined by a doctor through a high quality video link.
The service could potentially be expanded to other areas in the county but for now, there are no plans to do so.
A public meeting is taking place in Kilrush tonight calling for the full restoration of the service but Miltown Malbay GP, Dr Billy O'Connell is hopeful that the teledoc service will be sufficient.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister fears the scaling back of ShannonDoc services could add to the worsening overcrowding problem at University Hospital Limerick.
Addressing the Oireachtas Health Commitee, Simon Harris stressed that the decision to change the GP out-of-hours service wasn't taken on account of a funding issue.
He insists that any supports that can be provided, will be made available.
