Financial woes force one third people to avoid GP visits

More than one third of people avoided visiting the family doctor over the last year as a result of financial hardship, according to a survey.

Of those who did attend their GP, more than half (56%) paid in excess of €50 per visit.

Stephen McMahon, chairman of the Irish Patients Association, said he was not surprised at the findings, carried out on behalf of GP Now, a medical subscription service where members pay a set fee per month or per annum for unlimited GP visits.

“Certainly with the economic pressures on families, every area of spending is being looked at and if you’re having to pay €55-€60 to visit the doctor, there’s a chance you will try and put it off for as long as possible, which may lead to a worsening of your condition,” he said.

Financial constraints were particularly severe at this time of year, he said, with parents under pressure to pay for school uniforms and school books, and GP visits were more likely to be deferred.

“If you talk to GPs, they will tell you they are seeing a very significant drop in private patient income.”

Of those surveyed, 6% said they could not afford to bring a sick child to the doctor in the past 12 months.

When it came to the Government’s election promise to introduce free GP care for all, 90% of those surveyed said they did not believe universal free GP care will come to fruition over the next five years.

The general manager of GP Now, Tristan Healy, said that patients are paying more for basic healthcare than ever, despite pre-election promises to provide universal GP care and make services more affordable.

GP Now, which operates two clinics in Dublin and one in Cork, offers people the opportunity to pay a fixed fee for unlimited GP visits.

There are three packages available including:

- A family of two adults and up to three children pay €30 per month, or €360 per annum.

- Those under the age of 55 pay €15 per month, or €180 per annum.

- The over-55s pay only €10 per month, or €120 per annum.

Monthly membership also incurs a once-off registration fee of only €25, while there is no registration fee for those paying upfront for the year.

Details of membership are available at www.gpnow.ie or contact the membership team on 01 9056000.