Doctors say GP services on brink of collapse

GP services are in crisis and on the brink of collapse as resources are cut and workloads increased, doctors warned.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) accused successive governments of heaping extra burdens on GPs by slashing spending by 5% over the last five years while the number of medical or GP visit cards issued soared by 38%.

It hit back at criticisms by the troika that fees for private patients are too high, claiming they are now subsidising services to everyone.