GPs to withhold vital services

Family doctors are to stop providing vital services such as monitoring of patients on warfarin in an escalating row with the government over further cuts to the general practice budget.

Yesterday, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents about 2,000 GPs, said its members had indicated they would no longer carry out pro bono work which was not covered by the general medical services (GMS) contract.

The IMO’s Dr Ray Walley said doctors would refer patients to hospitals for services such as routine blood tests, warfarin monitoring (an anticoagulant used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots), and blood pressure monitoring.