Warning to minister over free under-6 care
“Hear what we have to say and address our concerns and reassure us that those concerns will be met and dealt with,” NAGP chief executive Chris Goodey said in a comment addressed to the minister.
“Otherwise this is not going to happen. We represent the views of the majority of the GPs in the country.”
Last week, the Irish Medical Organisation agreed to recommend new GP contracts, including the free GP care for under-sixes after the Government upped the €37m set aside originally for the scheme, to €67m.
This has led to yet another difference of opinion between the IMO and NAGP, rivals for GP membership.
The NAGP represents 1,200 GPs and claims it is the largest representative body for that branch of the profession.
However, the IMO says it represent 2,000 GPs.
There is something of a cross-over with a number of GPs in both bodies. NAGP was formed in its current incarnation in May 2013. Chris Goodey says it rebirth came about as a result of a feeling across general practices there was not adequate representation.
“It was felt the IMO had other areas they were focusing on, such as NCHDs. General practice had taken a backseat,” he said.
Just as they cannot agree on who is the most truly representative of GPs, the bodies are also at odds over the free care for under-sixes.
NAGP says what the Government was proposing boosts inequity and that the money should be targeted at children with illnesses, not spread across a population group that was one of the healthiest.
“In the last ballot which was taken, only a week ago, 92% of GPs voted against the free GP care for under-sixes and that was on a ballot of 1,056 responses,” said Mr Goodey.
“Nothing has really changed in the week. We need to get a sight of the contracts and we will have a further ballot when we get a sight. But that is 92% of all GPs.”
Amid reports, GPs who do not sign will lose patients which would affect them financially, he said: “There is a lot of scaremongering going on. If NAGP GPs don’t sign, then nobody is going to lose anything.”
For its part the IMO says the NAGP ballot took place before the IMO completed its negotiations - the NAGP was not involved in the talks.
It says the Government is determined to push ahead with the free care for under-sixes and it has got the best deal possible for its members and patients by getting greater funding and additional elements such as payments for asthma sufferers.
Leo Varadkar said what his department was doing "is the first step to providing a universal primary care service without a means test, which is the norm across the western world".
"It's also the first step in reversing the cuts to general practice that have occurred in recent years," he said. "Ultimately it's up to each GP to decide whether they want to accept the deal."
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