ICGP welcomes the publication of 'Building a Better GP and Primary Care Service' by the HSE

The ICGP welcomes the publication of 'Building a better GP and Primary Care Service,' by the HSE, which was commissioned against the background of a new contractual framework for general practice.

The report recognises that reform of Irish healthcare requires a decisive shift towards general practice, with a new contract underpinning this.

The report strongly supports the view that building capacity in GP-led primary care is vital. The ICGP supports capacity-building based on proper resourcing of primary care, and a contract enabling the management of long-term illness, multi-morbidities and access to diagnostics.

This is an evidence based report. It highlights low levels of funding for Irish general practice, and very low levels of practice staff, relative to other health systems.

"Access to free primary care for all is a stated Government policy, and the ICGP supports equitable access to quality healthcare based on medical need," said Dr Mark Murphy, Chair of Communications with the ICGP. "We welcome this report as a recognition of the need for more GPs, and the recognition that GPs can provide the foundation for a new model of integrated care."

"Irish general practice lost over one third of income from the imposition of the FEMPI cuts, and this must be reversed as a matter of urgency to address the issues of retention and shortage of doctors", he added.

Media queries

Aileen O'Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of General Practitioners
Tel. 01 5175311 / 087 2239830, Email: media@icgp.ie