New GP services for medical card patients delayed

Plans to introduce new 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and a modern contraception services in GP surgeries for medical card patients have been delayed.

The new services were due to come into effect from the beginning of May under a €10 million deal reached between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) last February, just before the general election.

However, the IMO said on Friday it had been advised by the Department of Health there had been a delay in the implementation of statutory instruments required to facilitate the introduction of the recent agreement on new and amended special items of service and the new rural support framework agreement.

The IMO said until the new deal was formally put in place the planned new services were available under the medical card.

In a note to members on Friday the chairman of the IMO’s GP committee Dr Padraig McGarry said: “We have been assured that these matters will be dealt with speedily however in the meantime and in these circumstances the IMO advise all GPs not to commence the new services to patients (which were due to come online from 1st May) until such a time as the Department confirm all appropriate legislative issues have been addressed. “

“The IMO are appalled that this has only been raised 3 days before the agreed date on which the agreement is due to be implemented.”

“Particularly in circumstances where agreement was reached with the IMO on the 22nd February and confirmed by the Minister for Health subsequently. Indeed as recently as 2nd April at the national GP meeting of IMO annual general meeting, members were informed by Dr Michael Harty TD that he had been given assurances that everything would be ready to implement on the agreed date.”

It is more than disappointing that, when the IMO on behalf of GPs, enter into negotiations under the Framework Agreement in good faith, a similar effort is not forthcoming on the Department and HSE side to ensure that they put in place the legislative measures.

The IMO has consistently advised the Department and the HSE that the manner in which GPs are being dealt with in terms of implementation and interpretation of agreements is completely unacceptable and this latest issue is not helpful in terms of co-operation or fostering any trust between the parties.