“Government plans threaten chaos in GP surgeries” – Chairman of GP Committee

Dr. Ray Walley, the Chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO has warned that Department of Health’s plans to extend Medical Cards (Doctor Only) to certain categories of Long Term Illness patients are unworkable and will lead to chaos in GP practices across the country.

Speaking before a special meeting this weekend on Industrial Relations issues affecting IMO members, Dr. Walley said that the Government was sleep-walking into a crisis in GP services; “The Government seem to believe that you can make something happen simply by saying it should. They plan to facilitate free GP visits for patients with long term illnesses irrespective of their financial position yet they have no idea how GPs are going to manage the increased workload which this change will bring.”

The Government’s plans envisage patients with long term illness receiving Doctor-only Medical Cards which will entitle them to unlimited free visits to GPs irrespective of their financial position; “GPs across the country are already at breaking point trying to manage their existing over-stretched workloads but with the stroke of a pen, the Minister proposes to increase pressure on those GPs even more by providing free GP visits to a group of patients who, due to the nature of their illnesses, are typically heavy users of GP services. “

Mr. Walley also pointed out that the current plans don’t anticipate GPs providing specific care for the long term illnesses in question; “Bizarrely the current plans will enable patients with long term illnesses to attend free of charge with GPs but those GPs are not resourced to provided chronic illness care so they can only deal with these patients in respect of other health issues that may arise.”

Ends.

For further information contact:
Maria Murphy - Director of Communications & Public Affairs, IMO
Tel: 01 6767 273