Local doctors ‘disbelief’ over plans to extend free GP care

With the country in the grip of a flu crisis, local doctors have expressed anger and disbelief at proposals by Health Minister, Simon Harris, to extend free GP care to all children under 13 and to increase access to medical cards for over 70s.
Doctors say the proposals will add to the severe pressure already experienced by local practices that are currently overwhelmed by patients suffering from flu, vomiting bugs and other seasonal viruses.
In fact they say that GPs are struggling to cope with the demand for their services all year round and many Meath people have to travel to Dublin to avail of GP services.
The Minister said on Monday (7th January) the scheme will see the extension of free GP care to all children under the age of 13, beginning with children aged 6 and 7 in 2020. The income limits for medical card assessments for people aged 70 or more will increase.

Dr Seamus McMenamin (above) of the Bedford Medical Centre said the introduction of GP cards for the under sixes saw a substantial rise in the number of GP visits and put a lot of pressure on GP practices.
"I would worry if there is another increase it will really impact on patient care.
"People are finding it difficult to get to see their GP as it is, because we are all so busy.
"There are people locally who have to travel to Dublin to see their GP."
He said the problem becomes particularly challenging when their is a flu epidemic or an outbreak of other seasonal illnesses.
"There is a lot of flu and stomach illnesses around at the moment," he pointed out.
"The rise of infections is causing a lot of pressure on the system and there is a waiting list to see GPs. We think it is horrific to have to wait two to three days to see a GP and how does a GP decide who is the sickest and most in need of a GP without seeing them?" he asked.

Dr Marie Scully (above) of Abbey Road Medical Centre in Navan said the move had been met with disbelief by GPs who are indeed really stretched by their workload both in daytime and in Out of Hours.
"The mood is that this is a populist move in the context of a looming general election but as a Minister for Health Simon Harris has no respect for the very real concerns of working GPs.
"If he really wanted to make an actual difference to the health of the Irish people he would be funding care management of chronic conditions and not the care of the healthiest part of the population.
"As an example chronic care management was supposed to be starting in January and has not. That was a stipulation of taking on the under 6’s - that we would get additional resources for the increasing amount of chronic care management that we do. 
"General practice is struggling with manpower and recruiting and there certainly is no spare capacity for any further increase in workload," she said. 
A statement form the Department of Health suggested the decision to extend GP care without fees builds towards the Government’s commitment to ensure access for all children, as well as on the Sláintecare Plan for universal access to healthcare without charges.
It said the implementation of the budget measure giving access to medical cards for those aged 70 or more will see an increase in the weekly gross income threshold to €550 for individuals or €1,050 for couples. It is estimated that this measure will benefit up to 56,000 people.