430,000 more to qualify for free GP visits

But angry doctors say they do not have the capacity

PATIENT advocates have welcomed plans to make more than 430,000 people eligible for free GP visits – but doctors are warning it will clog up the system.

Yesterday’s Budget announcement included measures to expand the provision of free GP care to those ‘on or below the median income’ through a means-tested scheme.

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath also committed to extending the GP visit card to those aged six and seven by the end of this year.

However, GPs said they do not have the capacity to treat these extra patients, adding that this measure must be matched by an increase of manpower. Doctors claim that those with a GP card attend appointments twice as often as those without one.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said it has consistently warned that adequate capacity must be in place before any expansion can be considered.

It described the measure as ‘ill conceived, and poorly planned’, voicing fears that the sickest patients will be worst affected.

However, co-founder of the Irish Patients’ Association Stephen McMahon welcomed the move, as it will help those putting off GP visits due to money issues. ‘It’s assisting people who are really vulnerable to all of the various pressures in the economy, at least visiting a GP will not be a barrier to their healthcare,’ he said.

He added that plans must be put in place to avoid the wait times being warned by GPs. Mr McMahon said: ‘I think the focus should be primarily to see how they can facilitate any additional visits as a result of that. We must start looking at problem solving. I don’t doubt there will be additional workload for some of them.’

But in their critical statement yesterday, the IMO said: ‘While we support the objective of removing financial barriers to patients accessing care, such a significant expansion in patient numbers – over 25% – requires long-term planning, not politically motivated Budget announcements.’

It added that the move will lead to a ‘dramatic increase in pressures on GP surgeries as demand for appointments will inevitably increase and current levels of care will be displaced’.

‘This will disproportionally affect those who are sickest and most in need of care,’ the statement added.

‘The truth is that giving someone a Doctor Visit Card will not automatically translate into an accessible service when that service is already struggling to cope with current demand. This is not good news for patients as we will now have to accept that, just like the NHS, longer waiting lists will become the reality.’

It added that many GPs surgeries have already closed their doors to new patients. The IMO said the Government announcement was ‘shocking’ given the pressure that GPs are already under.

Currently, those eligible for a GP card include everyone aged over 70, children aged under six years, and those who receive a Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance.

Dr Gary Stack, in Killarney, Co. Kerry, said doctors are now facing 450 more visits per year, but that ‘the GPs aren’t there to fulfil that’. ‘It’s going to affect patients who need care, it’s going to result in delayed care, it’s going to result in delayed investigation, it’s going to result in delayed treatment in hospital,’ he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. He also criticised the fact that GPs were not consulted on the measure, and had ‘no inclination that this was happening’ until Monday night.

Other health measures announced yesterday included the expansion of the free contraception scheme, currently available to those aged 17 to 25, to include those aged from 16 to 30 years. The Government has allocated €225million in Budget 2023 to provide for an overall package of €443million to tackle waiting lists next year.

A €5million fund has been provided for oral health services on a recurring basis as well as a one-off provision this year of €9million within the overall waiting list fund to address oral-health backlogs.

Hospital inpatient charges will also be scrapped, which has been welcomed by patient advocates, including the Irish Cancer Society’s director of Advocacy, Rachel Morrogh. ‘After many years of campaigning to reduce the costs carried by cancer patients, the Irish Cancer Society welcomes today’s momentous announcement that hospital in-patient charges are to be abolished,’ she said.

‘This will come as a huge relief to patients who are struggling to make ends meet in the current cost-of-living crisis.’