Free GP care for under-sixes will put patients at risk, says doctors’ group

The chief executive of a body representing general practitioners has claimed it is “immoral” that medical cards are being taken away from the most vulnerable and given to children who do not need them.

Chris Goodey, CEO of the National Association of General Practitioners made the comments ahead of the latest and largest of its “Town Hall” events held around the country to discuss the future of general practice here.

An estimated 500 GPs gathered in a Dublin hotel last night to discuss issues including free GP care for under-sixes and the Government’s proposals for universal health insurance.

Mr Goodey said the distribution of medical cards should begin with the people who need it most and said giving it to under-sixes will mean “surgeries will be so overwhelmed that patients will be put at risk”.

He said his organisation was already hearing from GPs who, he said “are working an average of 70 hours a week just to keep their heads above water”.

Dr Stephen Murphy, chair of the event organising committee, said the Government’s approach to reforming the primary care system has been counter-intuitive and absolutely destructive.

“The most perverse aspect of the Government’s desire to reform primary care is that it is effectively dismantling the only part of the healthcare that is actually working efficiently.

“Currently, general practice receives less than 3% of the overall health budget, yet 95% of the patient contacts every day are in general practice — this equates to almost 24m patient consultations per annum. In the UK general practice receives three times this ratio,” he said.