GPs warn of threat to patient safety over cuts

FAMILY DOCTORS have warned Minister for Health James Reilly of a threat to patient safety and a reduction in the standard of care available to patients if he continues to erode the income of GPs.

In a strongly-worded letter, Kieran Ryan, chief executive of the Irish College of General Practitioners, said it recognised the financial challenges facing the Government.

However, it did not believe the “erosion of GP reimbursements through cherry picking of specific tasks without consideration of the overall medical service provided by general practitioners represents good value or optimal care services for patients”.

Writing in the context of a recent Government notice titled “Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 – Consultation on fees payable to general practitioners – immunisation services including vaccination for influenza and hepatitis B,” Mr Ryan asked the Minister to consider the cost of providing reactive healthcare as opposed to the current levels of illness prevention available in primary care.

“Both the cost in euro terms as well as the cost in personal injury or illness from a suboptimally performing immunisation programme would far outweigh the benefit of ensuring the sustainability and improvement of our current system,” the letter states.

GPs have absorbed a series of cuts to fees they are paid to provide care to medical card patients and for providing childhood, influenza and other vaccination schemes.

The reductions have also applied to grants for the employment of practice nurses and other staff. It is estimated that practice income has dropped between 24 and 40 per cent since the Financial Emergency Measures Act was passed. There is anecdotal evidence that some practices are facing bankruptcy this autumn and may be forced to close. Almost all practices have been forced to reduce practice nursing hours and doctor sessions.

“It seems quite contradictory that the reform programme for our health services is clearly going in the direction of ensuring that a growing amount of care will be delivered in general practice and primary care but at the same time other policies are undermining the infrastructure and workforce capacity to take on the proposed new models of care delivery,” Mr Ryan said.

In July, the Government said it expected to save between €5 million and €13 million a year by transferring the administration of flu vaccine from GPs to pharmacists.