GPs offer colleagues free consultations

WHEN it comes to perks of the job, some are better than others and members of the medical profession do rather well by availing of free consultations and treatment from colleagues.

Dr Ronan Boland, a GP in Cork city, confirmed there was a “long-standing custom” where doctors don’t charge each other for healthcare. Moreover, such munificence is often extended to a doctor’s family.

Hospital consultants are equally generous to colleagues. Donal Duffy, assistant general secretary of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said where consultants were well known to each other, “there would be some pro bono work done”.