Flood of prison requests for GPs

MORE than 2,000 requests to see a doctor have been lodged by prisoners and there have been 200 referrals to accident and emergency departments since the start of the prison strike seven weeks ago.

Prison officials also allege the doctors have withdrawn emergency cover since army medical personnel began seeing prisoners at the end of May, a claim denied by the Irish Medical Organisation.

The 2200 requests to see a doctor does not include new inmates who would normally be examined within 24 hours of admission, the Prison Service last night.