State pays GPs over €500k a year to treat patients

Some 28 family doctors’ practices are being paid over €500,000 a year by the State to treat patients who cannot afford care, HSE figures show.

In 2012, Austin O’Carroll’s clinic in Dublin received gross payments of €795,414 — including practice support allowances.

Tallaght GP Andrew Jordan’s practice received just over €750,000, while Catherine Coleman of Phibsboro’s Berkley Clinic was paid €685,326. The top five is completed by Dublin GP Anthony Crosby, (€656,165) and Killarney’s Donal Coffey, who received €610,448.

In Cork, the list was topped by Patrick Joseph Turner, whose practice is in Bishopstown. His total payments were €568,809.

Cork’s second highest recipient was Thomas J Molloy, Charleville, with €573,092, while George O’Mahony’s practice in Hollyhill, was third, with €553,434.