Free our GPs from Fempi cuts

General practice could substantially shorten our ever-increasing hospital waiting lists, as published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, if given the resources to develop and expand.

Right now, Irish general practice, the foundation of our health service, is on its knees because of the drastic financial cuts inflicted by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (Fempi).

Additionally, conditions of service under the existing medical card contract are repelling new GPs.

A weak and dispirited GP workforce struggles to supply cost-effective services while being ignored and abandoned by the Government, the HSE and Department of Health. Waiting lists are now developing to see a GP due to the shortage of GPs. Patients are being forced into seeking services in the costly hospital setting which should be available to them in general practice.

The traditional gatekeeper role of GPs no longer applies, as they are now gatekeepers to services which are beyond reach, or have queues which would not be tolerated in any other European country.

A robust GP workforce would manage patients in their community setting, prevent unnecessary admissions, and thereby provide bed capacity for more complex cases and elective admissions, whilst providing quality community care.

I strongly urge that the Government immediately reverse the draconian Fempi cuts to general practice to allow it to fulfil its true potential. Without a strong, vibrant, well-resourced general practice workforce, this health service will never be reformed. Dr Michael Harty TD, Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee Kilmihil, Co Clare