13% of GPs won’t participate in under-6s free care scheme

More than 40% of GPs said they would not or were unlikely to participate in the proposed scheme to extend free GP care to children under six.

The survey of 720 GPs — carried out by Dr Aifric Boylan on behalf of the National Association of General Practitioners’ Executive Council — gauged attitudes to the new scheme, conditions and pay within general practice, stress levels, and the future of general practice itself.

Some 13% said they “definitely” would not participate, 28% said they ‘probably’ would not, while 31% were unsure if they would participate with the scheme “in its current form”. Those opposed to the scheme cited the lack of any negotiations between the State and GPs and the absence of any plans to alter General Medical Services (GMS) contracts.

The survey also showed many GPs would be reluctant to take on another GP’s GMS list in the event of a colleague retiring or leaving practice. A mere 13.4% said they would be willing to take on GMS patients who no longer had a GP.

Only 22% said they could continue to stay in business without difficulty, but 41% said they were either planning to close their practices if there was no improvement in funding, or if there were more cuts.

Almost a fifth (19.12%) said they would resign from the GMS if there was no “proper negotiation” with the State regarding the GMS contract.

GPs have also been adopting measures to deal with austerity and almost two-fifths (39.67%) have had to work more out-of- hours shifts in order to meet their bills. Just over 18% have had to let go other doctors employed in their practices, and 41% have been unable to replace broken equipment because of cutbacks.

The survey also revealed the high levels of stress among GP’s. More than 16% claimed they were so stressed it was affecting their mental health, while another 11% said the stress was affecting both their family life and their work.