Fine Gael to anger GPs with surgeries plan

Fine Gael is set to do battle with GPs over plans to make them perform minor surgeries, blood pressure tests, and some x-rays — moves that are likely to cause significant unrest among the powerful doctors’ group.

The plan will be included in the party’s election manifesto when it is launched tomorrow, despite the fact it has yet to be agreed with representative bodies the Irish Medical Organisation or Irish College of General Practitioners.

The Irish Examiner understands the Fine Gael manifesto will indicate that GPs will be told to expand their services to including minor surgery, blood pressure, and cardiac monitoring checks, and increased use of x-rays and ultrasounds.

It is also expected that Fine Gael will commit in the first year of a new government to give 10,000 more children with significant disabilities medical cards if they already receive the domiciliary care allowance.

The medical card move — which is designed to try to put the 2014 scandal firmly behind government — will be widely welcomed, and the public will likely support the GP plan.

However, doctors have previously raised concerns over the increased workload being placed on Ireland’s creaking GP system, meaning there is a real risk of a further high-profile row.

In 2011 and 2012, the HSE was forced to issue warnings to some GPs after they began charging patients for procedures usually reserved for hospitals such as blood tests in response to a previous bid to place the work on them.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Michael Noonan last night claimed voters only need to look to Portugal to see that “political instability leads to economic instability” — saying this is why Fine Gael should be re-elected.

The comments came as Sinn Féin yesterday launched its post-election jobs plan, with a promise to create 250,000 more positions over the next five years.

SF jobs spokesman Peadar Tóibín claimed that, despite Fine Gael’s plans to deliver a similar increase in work, it will actually provide just 12,000 new positions.

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