GPs signed up for plan ‘under duress’

The National Association of General Practitioners has claimed the “vast, vast majority” of GPs around the country who have signed the contract to provide free care for under-6s have done so “under duress”.

The association yesterday called on Health Minister Leo Varadkar to meet with members to discuss concerns over the contract, which has just come into effect, and the future of general practice in Ireland.

They also assured parents that doctors who have not signed up to the under-6s scheme are not about to abandon children in that age group and will try to get the HSE to cover the cost of GP visits.

Speaking at a meeting in Clonmel in South Tipperary — the area with the lowest rate of GPs signed up to the under-6s contract — Dr Yvonne Williams of the association said that if she were to become part of the scheme, she would have a patient wait time of a week, by September or October, because of the expected increase in GP visits by parents with young children.

“These general practitioners in Clonmel have shown great integrity in the face of intimidation for months,” Dr Williams said at a press conference attended by some of the local family doctors.

“They’re standing up for their patients. They wanted a voice themselves so their patients could have a voice.”

Dr Williams, based in Clare, said “one sixth of doctors” have not signed up to the Government’s scheme and that the “appetite” among patients has not been as great as expected.

“General practitioners around the country are very much on their side,” she said in relation to doctors who have refused to sign up.

“The vast, vast majority of general practitioners around the country who have signed this contract did so under duress.”

A petition has been signed by 444 GPs to express support with GPs who refuse to sign the under-6s contract.

Dr Martin Rouse, based in Clonmel, said same-day access to the family doctor will become “the exception rather than the norm” while waiting lists for GP services will become a reality for all patients.

“While doctors will continue to try to provide a safe and quality service to all their patients, there will be an inevitable knock-on effect of pressure on numbers, resulting in shorter consultation times and fragmentation of care,” he said.

“Expect increased use of A&E departments, paediatric units, and private clinics.”

 Pictured at the NAGP public information evening for South Tipperary GP's at Clonmel Park Hotel Briget Henny and daughter Saoirse from Tipperary.

Dr Rouse is one of 44 GPs across South Tipperary who have not signed the new contract but said parents can continue to bring their under-6s to their practices.

“Where contracts are not in place either due to a parent or doctor not registering, we will not be unreasonable and will do everything to facilitate the HSE covering the costs incurred.”

Dr Rouse accused Mr Varadkar of using Twitter to urge GPs to “cop on” and sign up. “Late-night Twitter spats are no substitute for engagement,” he added.

Asked why so many GPs around the country did sign the contract, Dr Williams, meanwhile, said many had invested in new surgery accommodation and equipment, particularly during the boom years, and had mortgages and loans to repay.

“GPs were faced with a dilemma of perhaps losing their patients or losing staff. It was very much Hobson’s choice; if you didn’t sign you risked going out of business or letting staff go.”