The introduction of free GP care for children under six is exacerbating emergency department (ED) overcrowding with inundated GPs referring more children to hospital, according to a leading ED consultant.

More than 163,000 children aged under-6 have been registered for free GP care, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has revealed.

The Junior Health Minister said if a bailout to cover the cost of free GP care for under-sixes is needed before the end of the year then it will be found.

The threat of families switching to a new doctor if their GP chooses to opt out of treating under-6s for free is likely to be one of the key deciding factors in whether doctors sign up.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar’s plan to make GP visits free for under-6s by this summer is facing a major stumbling block after a leading GP group said it will oppose the “medical apartheid” move.