GPs told: Don’t charge for blood tests

The HSE has warned GPs not to charge hard-pressed medical card patients for blood tests.

Fianna Fáil’s health spokesman, Billy Kelleher, said he was gravely concerned at the increasing number of patients claiming to have paid their GPs for blood tests.

Mr Kelleher raised the matter with Roisín Shortall, minister of state at the Department of Health, after it was brought to his attention that a number of GPs across the country were continuing to charge medical card holders.