More than 100 GP practices face closure, claims GP group

National Association of General Practitioners claims that more than 100 GP practices could close and say that general practice "is on the verge of extinction".

GPs will gather in the Hilton Double Tree Hotel in Dublin tomorrow to discuss the future of general practice in Ireland.

They claim it follows "a series of savage budget cuts, which has left the profession on the brink of extinction".

Chris Goodey, CEO of the National Association of General Practitioners, said: "The decision to hold these meetings reflects the growing crisis in general practice the length and breadth of the country. We’re hearing from GPs working an average of 70 hours a week just to keep their heads above water. Worryingly, as things stand, over 100 GP practices face closure with many more heading towards major financial ruin.

"The lies and the myths that have been peddled over the past number of years fly in the face of the reality on the ground. Put simply, general practice as we know is on the verge of extinction."

Mr Goodey also hit out at the impact of proposals for universal health insurance and the provision of free GP care for children under the age of six.

He said: "The recent publication of the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance takes place in the context of significant cuts imposed on general practice through the use of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation. The resources that GPs receive from the HSE (GMS Scheme) have been cut to the point where they are having a significant impact on patient health and services."

The GP group then went on to say that, since 2010, Minister Reilly and his department have "waged an outright war against the profession and have removed a staggering €160m from the general practice system".

Dr Stephen Murphy, GP and Chair of the event organising committee, feels that the Government’s approach to reforming the primary care system has been counter intuitive and absolutely destructive.

He said: "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. Ironically, it is the one that has no waiting lists, the one that provides value for money and the one that consistently delivers the highest satisfaction rates among patients.

"Currently, general practice receives less than 3% of the overall health budget (€400m out the €13.2bn health budget), yet 95% of the patient contacts every day are in general practice – this equates to almost 24 million patient consultations per annum. In the UK general practice receives three times this ratio.

"However, while these resources have been plundered, the cost of staff, overheads and practice have not come down and unfortunately it is the most vulnerable members of our society who will ultimately be the ones made to suffer.

"GPs across the country are calling on politicians and policy makers to end this flawed policy and properly resource the one part of the health service that is actually working before it is too late."