Free care plan ‘to lead to 4m extra visits to GPs’

Government plans for free GP care for all could result in 4m additional visits to family doctors each year, medics have warned.

The Irish Medical Organisation claimed the healthcare system is not structured to cope with such an anticipated increase in GP visits.

Research conducted on behalf of the IMO showed there is likely to be a 16% increase in visits to family doctors if the Government extends free GP services to all as planned by 2016.