Health Minister pledges significant resources for new GP contract
Health Minister Simon Harris has pledged that new GP contract negotiations will begin with a month.
Minister Harris last night told IMO Delegates meeting in Killarney that he is ready to start work, to deliver the kind of Irish health service that doctors will want to work in.
Minister Harris took the podium at the Europe Hotel in Killarney saying there was a lot to talk about and a lot to do.
He said previous decisions to reduce bed capacity were "crazy" and said he knew what was needed, listing capacity, recruitment and retention, investment, the new GP contract and the publication of the Sláintecare Report among the priorities.
He promised significant resources are available for a new GP contract and pledged that negotiations would begin within one month.
The immediate response from delegates was that they were listening but they also wanted to see action being delivered.
The IMO's incoming president, Beaumont Hospital's Dr Peader Gilligan, replied to the Minister's address, saying now was the time to stop analysing and start delivering the health service that the country requires.
