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CURRENTLY, ABOUT TWO per cent of Ireland’s health budget is spent on General Practice, and according to the Irish Medical Organisation, it is not sufficient.
The body’s 2,000-plus GPs launched a significant campaign this morning to lobby the government for more resources.
Looking at the UK model for inspiration, GPs say they want a five-fold increase in the portion of the health budget spent on them, bringing them more in line with the 9 per cent spend in Britain.
The campaign also wants to secure a commitment from government that it will preserve a “community based, same-day appointment service for General Practice”, as well as an agreed strategy for the development of the services over the coming decade.
According to the IMO there is a growing shortage of GPs which needs to be addressed with an “action plan for manpower”.
Every year, more than 22 million clinical consultations are held between GPs and their patients.
“Because it is so accessible, many policy makers and politicians overlook the critical role played by General Practice,” said chairman of the IMO’s GP committee Dr Ray Walley.
He noted that “successive governments have heaped extra burdens on General Practice while withdrawing resources at the same time”.
“The number of patients with either medical cards or GP Visit cards has increased by 38 per cent in the past five years yet the spend on General Practice is down by over seven per cent in the same period,” he explained.
This is unsustainable and will bring the service to the brink of collapse.
The IMO stressed that the Resource GP campaign, which will include advertising, public meetings, meetings with politicians and other stakeholders and information about the value provided within General Practice, would be positive and focus on patients.
“With the proper resources we could do an enormous amount to improve the delivery of health services in the community and we want to help,” continued Dr Walley. “We want to persuade the government of the potential that exists within General Practice and the ability within the GP profession to help transform the delivery of services to patients within their communities.”
Concluding his statement today, the chairman had a warning for the coalition over plans to extend free GP care to everyone over the next two years.
Describing it as “unhelpful”, he said: “Firstly we don’t believe it will happen. But, secondly, we are also concerned that it’s a distraction from the urgent need to increase resources for General Practice now to improve patient outcomes today. That should be the priority.”
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The GP service in Ireland is sooo 19th century. I can bring my pet to the local vet who can scans and test on site, yet a GP sends the simplest test up to the local hospital. GPs need to start working in bigger groups and offer a more modern service. Also GPS need to start working more closely with Pharmacists , why do patients need to make repeat visits to a GP to pick up a “script” ,cant they just send the renewals etc on to your pharmacy of choice. By now also all medical records should be computerised and instantly be transferable between GP and hospital. Its like a cottage industry stuck in a time warp
Health budget = don’t know …
let’s say it is 20 billion
g.p.’s get 2 % of same = 20,000,000,000 x 2% = 400,000,000 divided among 2,000 G.P.’S = Average of 200,000 per annum……
if the budget is 30 billion then the figure goes to 300,000 per annum and if 10 billion then 100,000 per annum.
Or another way to look at it is ; take the health budget in billions , double it and then divide that figure by 2.2 to get the average cost per g.p. visit from a medical card client. e.g.
20 billion doubled = 40 divided by 2.2. = less than 20 euro per visit.
What is the health budget ?
if the maths are wrong then cool , but no matter what way you look at it 2% of a multi billion budget shared among 2,000 people is alot of Moolah ; best of luck to them they have to endure untold hardship during their apprenticeship in the hospitals !
22million visits per year among 2,000 doctors equals an average of 11,000 consultations per g.p. which equals about 2,000 consultations per week per doctor .
That’s an average of 400 clients per day in a five day working week ;;; that’s an average of about a minute per consultation …. mmmmmmmmmmm
They are either working very hard or very smart !
@D , 22m divided by 2000 does look funny alright. 4 million people, lets say 2m dont go in a year 1m go twice a year that means there is a million people going 20 times a year? maybe???
One problem I notice is that a lot of GPs dont work a full week anymore , our one only starts at 2pm and another one tends to be either on maternity leave or only works part time. I guess if you are pulling in an hourly fee that would make a hooker or a 4 goldmines barrister blush then why would you work full time?
” primary care” includes public health nursing, diabetes retinopathy programme, primary care team members such as physio, speech and language, audiology, physiotherapy, psychology as ell as the GP.
Also, any money paid to a GP by the HSE is also to cover staff costs, premises etc.
Turnover is not profit.
They want to bring funding inline with Britain @ 9% but they find talks of free gp care “unhelpful” and “distracting”.
They really gotta get themselves a new PR person if the say both these things in the one statement.
I’m the dope and you didn’t even read the article. See the irony there? Read the last paragraph… They don’t think free gp care will happen and they see it as a distraction from them securing more resources…
Totally agree Bilbo. Also, in the UK it can take a week or more to get an appointment with your GP. As the GPs here want to maintain same day appointments and are not interested in providing free care, the UK model doesn’t appear to be the one they want to emulate. Salaried GPs in UK earn roughly between £50 and £80000 pa. http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/doctors/pay-for-doctors/
It’s an utter disgrace, the way GP’s are treated – they study and work hard to get the licence therefore should be allowed to request a reasonable fee for services. My GP’s is totally worth the money I pay him, no queues, on time appointments and he afford’s myself and my children sufficient time during the appointment. If free GP care is introduced by this government at a substantially reduced subsidised fee then the service will ultimately suffer….ie. convarebelt practices and human error.
When have GP prices ever come down?
As a GP working in England I would like to point out that9% of total resources comes no where near enough…..and I am not talking about salaries but about the extended community team and prescribing which falls within that envelope.
Globally it is recognised that an effective primary care system is the basis of an efficient health care system. There is a huge amount of work needed to bring Irish primary care into the modern world.
great name !
Ratios are misleading.
The Health Budget is far too large as is.
A percentage rate comparison of GP to Overall spending is also increased by reducing the Overall spend, and maintaining the current GP allocation.
Non-sense argument.
Before anyone jumps on the populist bandwagon – when I say Health Budget is too large – that’s widely accepted due to vastly excessive consultant payments, branded drugs, wasted expenditure and overpaid senior civil servants.
You’re right Mike – the health budget is way too large, with far too much management (and far too many idiots in management) and waste etc.
Trouble is the only way to really reform the health system (apart from getting rid of all the dead wood) is to invest in a much stronger primary care system and to develop more ways of getting people who dont need to be in hospital into more appropriate places – be that home with district nursing care or into other appropriate health care settings.
This is going to cost a lot to set up, and theyre going to need some sort of superman/woman to preside over it, but it will save huge amounts of money in the longer term, nd be far better for people using these services too.
Increased GP resources is just one of the things that need improving to achieve this
Why I left Kerry for America!!! In a nutshell
There are a great amount of reasons I’m sure to leave here for America Fiona. Saying that healthcare surely can’t be one of them ….
Fair play to you Bilbo. There are more, but it was a major factor. Maybe on day I’ll return to Tarbert and try again.
50 million Americans with no health insurance.
If you arrive at hospital with a gun shot, they’ll barely remove the bullet and stabilise you before kicking you out. If you don’t pay the enormous bill that follows, you’ll get turned away for any future emergency care you might need.
Fiona the HSE may be bad but Obamacare is mired in a war with the ultra right wing commercial health insurance lobby that will impact on a huge number of patients. Some reason to leave. Well America’s loss is Kerry’s gain I suppose
I didn’t day Obamacare was grand; nor do I believe it will work in America, or anywhere really. I’d love to still practice in me home so, but the HSE needs a major overhaul, and I make so much more in America. Anyroads, still love Éire, but will practice in Kansas for the time being.
My doctor charges € 30 for repeat prescription left at reception. My consultant in hospital gives me on going script I just leave it in chemist and collect it when I need. Also some gp surgery’s have a nurse that will say take your blood pressure and routine stuff for small fee.
whats your point?
By ” more resources ” I take it the GP’s are talking about more taxpayers money in their Bank Accounts and back pockets. With the Troika departed next out of the traps will be the Hospital Consultants and the Lawyers including our Judges. €65 for a GP visit in Dublin €20 in Brussels. These guys have no shame.
Hopefully Michael Noonan will give this campaign short shrift like he did yesterday with the letter from the Dublin Hospital Managers. He seems to be the only one in the Government with his finger on the pulse for the ordinary taxpayer.
PS – Have the Dublin Hospital Managers chandaliers, bevilled mirrors like the guys in the Galway Mental Health unit?
Brussels v Dublin. Lame argument & comparison. See Soneps sensible post
Im sure in Brussels that the fee you pay the GP is subsidised by the state. Malpractice insurance alone is 7k a year for the average GP. That is a lot of private patients! Add to that state imposed costs such a medical council, ICGP membership ( mangadory), registration with competence assurance scheme ( mandatory) and the figure pushes 10 grand.
@ Ryon – circular argument , High taxes and high costs dealing with the Irish “professions” increase the cost of living for everyone. Ireland isnt on the moon , anything sold here should be 10% more perhaps being an island, the rest is self inflicted.
The guy from the troika was obviously private as he said Belgium citizens have free medical care. I believe the troika rather than spinning comments from vested interests. Cut the malpractice and you will reduce your insurance. Likewise where court cases are settled with large payouts without admitting liability where the “malpracticing” Doctor is not brought to account and the lawyers on both sides laugh all the way to the bank with the taxpayer & private patients footing the bill. Who imposed mandatory membership of the ICGB?
What’s the average salary of a GP in Ireland and how does it compare with other EU countries?
What’s the average price of a house, food, electricity, fuel, motor tax, car insurance, education, health insurance and how does it compare with other countries?
That is the best kept secret of the Irish state. You know how much other public servants earn, it is public, but GPs are private operators (even when financed largely by the state) and it is very difficult to find out the average income. Some say they earn more than hospital consultants.
Is setting up a gp not an open market?
Can a NCHD just become a GP.
So how does one becom a gp then?
Training as a GP requires 1) Finishing medical school 2) the 1 year internship. 3 Then you apply for a training scheme, this is a 4 year course, where you work in various specialities ( hospital and community based| and do exams.
To be a GP now you must be on the specialist register. A junior doctor cannot just put up a brass plate and call themselves a GP
What is the money for GPs spent on?
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