Free GP care for under-sixes ‘politically motivated’

A doctors’ group says the Government’s plan to introduce free GP care for children under six is politically motivated and will be impossible to implement in its current form.

After reviewing the draft contract published on Friday, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) says its members are extremely concerned about the proposed scheme. “The NAGP believe that the implementation of this new contract in its current form is now impossible,” it says.

It argues that the scheme is being imposed on the public without enough thought and open negotiations with GPs.

“The NAGP has been against this policy on the basis of its patent lack of evidence based planning, its negative effects on patient safety, and the loss of timely access to the doctor for the genuinely ill,” it says.

In a survey of 720 GPs last week, undertaken by the NAGP, only 3% stated that they would definitely take part in the scheme.

The NAGP has called on the Government to abandon its current policy and engage in meaningful negotiations with GP representatives.

Meanwhile, the Irish Medical Organisation says the extension of GP cards to children aged under six is a “trojan horse” to change doctors’ conditions without any negotiation.

Chairman of the IMO’s GP committee, Dr Ray Walley, raised a number of concerns after a preliminary review of the draft contract.

He says it is apparent that the proposals will significantly increase the workload of GPs and seriously undermine their clinical independence.

Over the coming weeks, the IMO plans to have extensive engagement with members. It will have a detailed analysis of the proposals so GPs can assess the impact on their own practices.

Government officials met with GP representative groups on Friday and immediately afterwards published the draft contract on the HSE’s website.

Following the meetings, Alex White, the minister of state for primary care, said there would be a three-week consultation on the 42-page draft contract.

He said the consultation process would include the fee structure although, ultimately, that would be set by Health Minister James Reilly.