IMO president, Dr Padraig McGarry, also accused the Government of pursuing an electioneering strategy of offering “free” services.

Any plan to have GPs working alongside consultants in hospital emergency departments could result in an 'extraordinarily efficient service' but it will not work as a stop-gap measure, according to a leading GP in Cork.

Doctors have six months to change how they prescribe anxiety and sleeping medicine to avoid disciplinary action by the Medical Council.

The provision of just 480 acute beds over three years under the HSE's Capital Plan was greeted with extreme disappointment by hospital consultants.

A survey of 336 GP practices over the past month by the Sunday Independent found that 148 (44%) are operating at full capacity.

New figures confirm the “catastrophic consultant” shortage, the Irish Medical Organisation has claimed.

The introduction of free GP care for seven and eight-year-olds should be done on a phased basis, according to doctors representatives.

A new report from the Medical Council published today has outlined dangerous hours and high-stress environment that the country's youngest doctors endure.

GPs have voted in favour of accepting a €210m deal with the Government which will see substantial investment in general practice over the next four years.

A new meningitis vaccine is being introduced in Ireland following a recent spike in cases of a particularly deadly type of meningococcal disease.

Consultants have welcomed a commitment by the Minister for Health to resolve a dispute over pay discrimination.

A pay discrepancy among doctors is up for discussion at today's Irish Medical Organisation AGM.

The Irish Medical Organisation has announced a €210m Government deal for general practice after long-running talks with the Department of Health.

Family doctors say they are “seriously concerned” that the undermining of the CervicalCheck screening programme will put off women from using it.

Primary care teams developed by the HSE throughout the country have been deemed “a failed initiative” by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

The HSE has paid over €540m to GP practices and out of hour services in fees and allowances last year, for treating medical card patients and providing services for other State health schemes.

General Practice members in the Irish Medical Organisation have denounced the "lack of support" for them in Budget 2017.

Ireland faces a “healthcare tsunami” because of its rapidly ageing population, doctors warned last night.

A refusal by doctors to sign up to free GP care for the under 12s is expected to delay the proposed scheme until at least late next year.

A series of measures aimed at attracting doctors to work in rural general practice are to be announced shortly by the HSE. The move comes amid continuing difficulties recruiting GPs to take up vacant positions in 19 unfilled practices nationwide.

The Irish Medical Organisation says key concerns it raised over free GP care for under sixes have been “comprehensively dealt” with by the HSE and the Department of Health.

Gardaí were tonight continuing to investigate an horrific car crash in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford which claimed the lives of two young schoolgirls aged six and nine, and left two in critical conditon in hospital.

Roscommon have received a double boost going into their Connacht Football opener against New York on Saturday night.