Cork clinic to offer members-only access to GPs

An Irish company that has revolutionised GP care by providing unlimited access on a membership basis is to open a Cork clinic soon.

Established two years ago, GP Now currently has two Dublin clinics operated by six GPs and almost 6,000 members.

Members pay an annual subscription, depending on age and family status, with each fee including blood tests and annual flu vaccinations.

With conventional GP fees at between €40 and €70 a visit, the new service is particularly popular with young families. There are three packages available:

*A family of two adults and up to three children pay €30 a month, or €360 per annum;

*Individuals under the age of 55 pay €15 a month, or €180 per year;

*Over 55s pay €10 a month, or €120 a year.

The company has just launched a lifetime membership for over 55s for a flat fee of €600. However, such membership is limited to 100 places per clinic.

GP Now general manager Tristan Healy said each clinic had a limit on its membership, so as to maintain a high standard of service and to keep waiting times as short as possible.

Mr Healy said they hoped to establish their Cork clinic on Union Quay. The clinic would have one GP initially but the plan is to have three, as membership increases. All clinics are open until 8pm on Wednesday nights and on Saturdays.

The company’s first clinic opened in Sandyford in October 2011 and the second opened in Swords in August last year. Mr Healy said the clinics operated by appointment only, with at least 15 minutes allocated for each patient.

The company is planning to open between 10 and 15 centres across the country over the next five years.

Mr Healy said the company wanted to establish clinics in the cities firstly, before moving to other locations.

“We want to provide pro-active healthcare because the more we see our patients with the little things, the less we will have to see them with the big things,” he said.

“We would encourage our patients to have a blood test once or twice a year — certainly every 12 months would be the norm. Everything is covered, as it would be in a conventional GP’s clinic.”

He said the model of care was based on Britain’s National Health Service that allowed taxpayers access to free GP care.