Deal clears way for doctor-only medical card

A dispute about HSE staffing levels which threatened the introduction of the doctor-only medical card was largely settled yesterday.

The resolution clears the way for the launch of a campaign to advertise the availability of "GP Visit Cards".

Following a meeting between the Health Service Executive (HSE) Employers' Agency and the union Impact, representing mainly administrative workers in the health service, an agreement was reached on additional staff to facilitate the introduction of the scheme. It was also agreed that there would be an ongoing review of its operation.

The union had said insufficient staffing could lead to delays in the introduction of the cards.

There is likely to be a large number of applications over a short period for the 200,000 doctor-only medical cards, and it was accepted that extra community welfare officers to assess the applications and extra administration staff to process them would be required.

A decision had been made between the union and the employers' agency that staffing would be dealt with at local level, but up until Wednesday only the midlands and the northeast areas had reached agreement.

Other HSE areas reached agreement during discussions yesterday, but a settlement in the northwest area is still to be made.

Gerard Barry, chief executive of the agency, said, with the exception of the northwest, both the agency and Impact were satisfied that preparations were in place to allow them to go ahead with the introduction of doctor-only medical cards.

Kevin Callinan, national secretary of Impact's health and welfare division, said that discussions in the northwest had reached an impasse but they had agreed to meet again today.

Application forms are now available on the HSE website or from health centres.

The HSE has also launched an advertising campaign to highlight the introduction of the cards. A free-phone number for those interested will operate Monday to Friday at 1800 242630.