Don’t sign under-6s care deal, GPs told

We need more information and time, say doctors

HUNDREDS of a ngry family doctors gathered last night to discuss Government plans to bring in free GP care for under-sixes.

Eight meetings, which were organised by the National Association of GPs, took place around the country last night, including one in Portlaoise where almost 100 turned up.

Chris Goodey, of the NAGP, said the meetings were designed to encourage GPs to abstain from signing the new contracts being provided by the HSE for free GP care for under-sixes until further information is provided.

The organisation said last night that it has received legal advice that the proposed new scheme would involve a breach of the existing GP contract.

NAGP bosses say the i ssue relates to concerns about patients aged under six being taken away from GPs who refuse to sign up to the new deal and being transferred to a doctor in the scheme.

Mr Goodey said: ‘We have a huge amount of meetings around the country in which we are promoting a “wait” campaign. We do not want GPs to be forced to sign a contract and we are asking GPs to wait on a number of independent reviews which are expected to come out in the next while.

‘This is a fundamental change to how primary care is delivered and we need to understand how that will affect patients.

‘The majority of GPs feel that this is wrong for patients and wrong for general practice.

‘They are completely starved of resources and the Government is dangling badly needed money as a contract and saying if you don’t sign it, we will give it to other areas. This money is badly needed for sick patients, rather than those under six.’

The meetings come before a deadline of May 25 for GPs to sign and return the contracts.

Mr Goodey said: ‘It is unrealistic to want these contracts back by May 25. It would be remiss of doctors to sign a contract without understanding the full conse- quences of what this contract means for both general practice and their patients.’

A further eight GP meetings are due to take place over the coming days and weeks. In all, up to 2,000 family doctors are expected to have attended the meetings.

The HSE has said it wants GPs to decide by May 25 whether to sign up to the new scheme for free GP care for the under-sixes.

It is not known how many GPs have signed up to the contract.

‘The majority feel this is wrong’

The HSE is believed to be aiming to have service set-up start from July 1.

As GPs are independent contractors, they must decide for themselves if they want to sign up or opt out. Under the new contract, GPs will be paid €125 per child each year, along with other fees. Children under six will have two basic health checks, at ages two and five.