Family doctors the key to A&E crisis, say Labour

THE A&E crisis could be significantly eased by a radical switch in focus to family doctors and community services, Labour said yesterday.

Unveiling plans for a health service shake-up, if they win power, party leader Pat Rabbitte also pledged to extend the medical card to 40% of the population.

Labour health spokesperson Liz McManus declined to give a definite timetable for eliminating the patients-on-trolleys crisis blighting many A&E units, but pledged there would be a significant improvement in the situation within the first year of a Rainbow government.