Harney to increase funding for community medical services
20/02/2006 - 12:28:28Minister for Health Mary Harney has planned an investment in community medical care to take the pressure off A&E departments.
It follows claims from doctors and nurses groups that public patients are attending hospitals because they do not have access to a local doctor.
The Irish Medical Organisation claims this is because less GPs are unwilling to continue out-of-hours work for little pay.
Mary Harney has said she is committed to resolving the situation. She said there is a fantastic network of doctors around the country within easy access of everyone and that the way forward is to maintain this level of service, but in a more modern context and with back-up facilities from nurses.
