Only half of GPs sign up for U-6s scheme

Large swathes of the country will not have access to the free GP care for under sixes, it has emerged.

Latest figures from the HSE show that just 53%, or 1,279, of the 2,414 doctors who hold medical contracts have signed up.

However, in parts of the country fewer than a third have signed up, according to a survey of local health offices across the country. In Tipperary South, in particular, just 4 doctors out of 51 (8%) had returned contracts.