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Sunday 2 April 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# free gp care

This year
2023
# Healthcare
ESRI: Extending free GP care to all by 2026 could cost state up to €881 million
The research was published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
All time
# general practice
FactCheck: Are there 1,000 more GPs in Ireland than five years ago?
Minister Regina Doherty made the claim during a recent interview.
# extra visits
Doctors warn that extending free GP care to under-8s is 'putting pressure on a timebomb'
The IMO has warned that many GP clinics are already at capacity and cannot take on new patients.
# free gp care
Government approves plans to give 14,000 carers free GP cards
Health Minister Simon Harris said that he knew of the difficulties faced by carers in Ireland.
# videodoc
374,000 students get access to free online GP consultations
The USI has said the move will help students who are struggling financially.
# not enough money
'In a utopian society there would be free GP care. In reality, we can't do that'
Doctors are struggling with a jump in consultations and lack of resources.
# budget 2016
Free GP care extended to more kids, but not everyone's happy about it
The measure follows this year’s controversial introduction of free GP care for the under-6s.
# Expansion
Registration for over-70s free GP care begins today
The announcement has been made by Health Minister Leo Varadkar.
# doctor visit
Here's how many kids have been signed up for free GP care so far
The Minister for Health is happy with the progress so far.
# Medical Cards
This eight-year-old's cancer fight has led to a big change for other children
Children and young adults under 18 will be automatically granted medical cards.
# busy phonelines
Ten parents PER MINUTE are signing up to free GP care for under 6s
The level of uptake has been described as “phenomenal”.
# gloves are off
Leo tells GPs to "cop on" in heated exchange over under-sixes
The minister was accused of stroke politics and he was having none of that.
# from today
Just under 1,500 GPs have signed up for under-sixes free GP care
Parents are now able to sign their under-sixes up for free GP care
# work around
The website for under-sixes free GP care is down, but it is still possible to register
The service has been experiencing a large volume of traffic this morning.
# Poll
Poll: Will parents bring their under-sixes to the GP more now that it's free?
Parents are able to sign-up for free GP care for under-sixes from today.
# DOctor Doctor Gimme The News
Doctors are being urged to refuse to sign up to the free GP scheme
They say that the plan will not be in the best interests of patients.
# Doctors
Half of Ireland's GPs are working more than 50 hours per week
Doctors say their mental health has been affected by the pressure they’re now under.
# Nominal fee
So it turns out that 'free GP care' might not actually be free
A modest charge could be applied but no final decision has been taken.
# Pledge
The government says children under six will have free GP care later this year
Legislation passed today includes an amendment to ban gagging orders on doctors that was put forward by Senator John Crown.
# Priorities
Here's the one thing Enda Kenny and Joan Burton have definitely agreed on...
Over 70s will be happy with this one.
# Coalition headache
The government has lost another Seanad vote - and it could delay free GP care for children
Senator John Crown’s amendment to free GP care legislation has been passed – against the government’s wishes.
# free gp care
Doctors call for 'Robin Hood' approach to medical card crisis
The NAGP want the government to divert money that’s ring-fenced for free under six care to discretionary medical cards.
# Doctors
Doctors' organisation says politics getting in way of patient treatment
IMO President Dr Matthew Sadlier was also critical of the free GP care plan and Universal Health Insurance proposals.
# News Fix
Here's What Happened Today: Wednesday
Everyone’s talking about Sean FitzPatrick being found not guilty.
# doctor doctor
Go-ahead given to free GP care for under sixes
The ICGP says that if Cabinet agrees to bring in free GP care, it will be a premature decision.
# Hardworking
The government has so much work on right now it's having an extra Cabinet meeting today
Yes, seriously.
# free gp care
White: I invited the IMO to talk about GP concerns - that hasn't happened
The IMO said it is studying the minister’s response to its concerns but criticised him for his refusal to negotiate fees with them.
# Across the water
It's not only nurses that have emigrated to find work. Guess how many GPs have?
The IMO say that the last five years has seen seven years’ worth of Irish qualified GPs move to the UK.
# Children
IMO wants "real negotiations" on free GP care
Doctors held a ‘mass briefing’ for parliamentarians throughout today.
# Sneaky
Free under 6s GP care dubbed 'trojan horse' to change doctor conditions
The IMO said a new draft contract for the initiative would mean a significantly increased workload for doctors and would require additional resources.
# Head-to-head
IMO accuses Government of pushing 'spin over substance' after meeting
The two sides were discussing plans for free GP care for children aged under six.
# Showdown
IMO remains "sceptical" about free child GP care and will tell the Government today
The union say the plan is being implemented “by diktat”.
# Commitment
Reilly: Everyone will have free GP care by 2016, IMO: There’s no hope of that
Reilly also said that he will legislate in the new year to crackdown on private health insurance providers offering plans which exclude treatment at certain hospitals.
# Budget 2014
Health Budget measures could have “dangerous and unintended” consequences, GPs warn
The doctors’ group is warning that measures like the downgrading of medical cards for 35,000 pensioners could cause problems down the line.
# Budget 2014
Reilly: €666 million adjustment "toughest challenge I've had to face yet"
The Health Minister’s been tasked with overseeing a programme that will include €268 million in pay-related savings and €113 million from a ‘probity drive’ aimed at medical card holders.
# Budget 2014
Reilly on health cuts: 'This does entail more heavy lifting for people'
How €113 million will be saved in ‘medical card probity’ was a key issue at today’s health budget briefing.
# Budget 2014
Under 5s care "first step" towards free GP visits for all --- Howlin
The move, flagged in advance of today’s Budget, has been criticised by the GP representative group who say there was no consultation in advance.
# Pre-budget submission
Sinn Féin wants a third rate of tax, a betting tax and to abolish the property tax
The party is advocating a total of €1 billion in expenditure savings and €1.4 billion in taxation measures to bring about a total deficit adjustment of around €2.45 billion.
# Legislative agenda
Laws to extend free GP care and regulate sunbed use promised by government
The government has published a list of bills it expects to publish between now and the end of the year.
# News Fix
Here Is What Happened Today: Tuesday
Everyone’s talking about the end of the Dublin Bus strike, the court ruling against Seán Quinn and family and a tragedy in Canada in which two children were killed by an escaped snake.