Free GP care: Parents can now register children aged 6 and 7

Health Minister said the measure 'will ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing healthcare and provides vital support to families dealing with cost-of-living challenges'. Picture: iStock

Parents can register children aged six and seven for free GP care from today, Friday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced.

The GP visit cards are now available for all children aged under eight, in the first stage of an expansion of free GP care which will ultimately add 500,000 people to schemes, including around 78,000 children aged six and seven.