GPs plea for spot on emergency taskforce to help tackle hospital overcrowding

GPs are demanding to be included on the Emergency Department Taskforce which aims to tackle the overcrowding and admissions crisis in hospitals.

General practitioners are excluded from the group, despite advice that patients should avoid emergency departments and seek treatment from their doctors in the first instance.

The National Association of General Practitioners has said it welcomes comments by the Health Minister Leo Varadkar that more investment is needed in primary care in order to tackle the hospital crisis.

However, they add GPs must be invited to sit on the taskforce if Minister Varadkar is serious about change.