Auditing GPs - Doctors must not avoid scrutiny

WITH pressure growing on Government to give taxpayers better value for the money being poured into the bottomless pit of the health service, it makes much sense to audit the performance of doctors.

The public will welcome news that the Medical Council is planning to audit 1,000 doctors a year to ensure they are competent to practice medicine is a major step towards improving the quality of Ireland’s creaking health service.

Arguably, the role of the GP has never been as important, particularly as greater emphasis is now being placed on the doctor’s role in helping to ease pressure on hospital accident and emergency units where patients are forced to spend days on trolleys in the corridors outside overcrowded wards.