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07 September 2017
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ICGP calls for general practitioners to have a central, enhanced role in the delivery of healthcare in its Pre-Budget Submission 2018

College calls for the FEMPI cuts to be reversed in Budget 2018, to facilitate expansion of primary care and reduce pressures on hospitals.

Mr Fintan Foy, CEO, ICGP; Dr Brendan O'Shea, Director of the PRC, ICGP; Dr Karena Hanley, National Director of Specialist Training, ICGP; Dr John Gillman, Chair, ICGP; Dr Mark Murphy, Chair of Communications, ICGP

 
The Irish College of General Practitioners, the professional body for general practice in Ireland, has published its pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2018.

The ICGP is calling on the Department of Finance to increase funding to general practice, with six key recommendations for the delivery of expanded healthcare services by general practitioners in the community.

Dr Brendan O'Shea, Director, Post-Graduate Resource Centre, ICGP, said: "The ICGP recommends the introduction of a new contract for general practice as an overarching priority. The new contract must provide for the management of chronic disease in the community. The ICGP recommends resourcing general practice in line with other OECD countries, to address historic underfunding and more recent income reductions through FEMPI."

"Well-resourced general practices can reduce the pressures on emergency departments as well as encourage recruitment of new doctors to address the manpower crisis. The HSE has predicted a shortage of 2,000 GPs by 2025."

The College's 4,156 members represent over 85% of practising GPs in the Republic of Ireland.

Six key recommendations

The key recommendations are:

  1. Negotiation of a new contract for general practice, providing for Chronic Disease Management (CDM) in communities.
  2. Appropriate funding for development of essential general practice. and reversal of the FEMPI cuts.
  3. Increasing capacity in general practice and primary care.
  4. Greater access for GPs to diagnostic services.
  5. Greater access for GPs to mental health services.
  6. Promoting healthy behaviours in society.

Pre-Budget Submission 2018

Click here for the full version of the ICGP's Pre-Budget Submission 2018.

Media queries

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