Union urges doctors to reject free GP care scheme
The National Association of General Practitioners is urging doctors not to sign up for the free GP care scheme for under-6s.
The NAGP's National Council made the announcement after an emergency meeting to discuss the contract deal agreed between the Irish Medical Organisation and the HSE.
The NAGP, which represents more than 1,200 GPs, said that the scheme does not serve the best interests of general practice or patients.
It has described the initiative as medical apartheid.
However, it is up to individual GPs to decide whether or not to sign contracts for the HSE scheme.
"This deal … is motivated by election votes rather than real patient need," said Dr Andy Jordan, chairman of the NAGP.
"The mortality rate in children less than 18 years of age is 3.8/10,000 and the vast majority of those are caused by accidents, not illness.
"At the same time we have 5,000 deaths per year in Ireland from cardiovascular disease but there is no money to provide free GP care to those patients.
"The proposal will fuel the inequalities that already exist in our health service.
"The asthma scheme will only be available to children between 2 and 4; the diabetes scheme will only be available to people who already qualify for a medical card or doctor only card; the under-6s scheme will not cover medicines, x-rays, blood tests, A&E visits etc.
"It is simply a smoke and mirrors political stroke. The IMO, ICGP and NAGP are all of the same opinion – that the provision of free care must be prioritised for those who are in genuine need, be that medical or financial.
The NAGP is calling on all GPs to collectively oppose the contract.
"There has been a lot of bullying and scaremongering in the last few days," said Dr Jordan.
"GPs are being told that they cannot afford not to sign this contract, that if they don’t sign it someone else will.
"The truth is that GPs cannot afford to sign this contract. The funding on offer will barely cover the cost of providing the service, which equates to an extra 4.5 million consultations per year.
"It certainly does not represent the financial lifeline it is being portrayed as.
"There is, without doubt, a desperate need for investment in general practice but investment needs to be allocated to the areas where it is needed – rural practice, general practice in deprived urban areas, comprehensive chronic disease management, existing services which are grossly underfunded.
"For the last five years GPs have had to sit back and accept more and more demand for less and less funding. That stops now. If we do not, as a group, stand together and oppose this scheme, we will be letting ourselves down and letting our patients down.
"It will allow the irresponsible erosion of general practice to continue.
"More than 92% of GPs supported the NAGP’s recently call for collective refusal to sign the contract.
"It is now time for GPs to have the courage of their convictions. We must not be motivated by short-sightedness or self-interest. We must remain act in the best interest of all GPs and all patients."
