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News: General Practice

All entries for General Practice

New GP training posts added in north Dublin

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2010

The number of GP training places is to increase from 120 to 157 annually. To enable this expansion, additional GP training posts have been made available by the HSE via a formal re-alignment of existing Senior House Officer (SHO) posts... Read more

Training needed for GMS list eligibility

Gary Culliton | 25 February 2010

A doctor who has been in practice for many years with another doctor who has a GMS list is not eligible to apply for that list unless s/he undergoes a particular training programme, Health Minister Harney told the Oireachtas Health... Read more

GPs 'above average' on lifestyle markers

23 February 2010

Doctors are smoking and drinking less than the rest of the population, but are average exercise takers, the concluding report from the IMT GP survey reveals... Read more

'Physician, heal thyself' still mantra for one-third of GPs

23 February 2010

It seems some GPs do not make the best patients, with a third admitting they do not have a GP of their own and did not avail of the swine flu vaccine. In a poll conducted by Irish Medical Times,... Read more

€140m to be spent on primary care centres

Gary Culliton | 16 February 2010

A total of 26 primary care centres are expected to open this year ‘at a minimum’, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health heard last week, with a further 37 next year and another 25 in 2012. “To put that into... Read more

Less than half of GPs are in PCTs

Niamh Mullen | 15 February 2010

‘Virtual’, ‘time-wasting’, ‘a white elephant’ and ‘under-resourced’ were some of the words used by GPs to describe what they thought of the Primary Care Strategy. More than half (52 per cent) said they were not part of a primary care... Read more

Some GPs charge twice as much as others

Niamh Mullen | 15 February 2010

The most that patients can expect to be charged for a visit to their family doctor is €65 with the cheapest consultation costing €30, according to IMT’s latest GP survey. But only 4 per cent of GPs said they charged... Read more

Doctors split on issue of advertising services

Niamh Mullen | 15 February 2010

GPs are divided on whether they should be allowed advertise their services freely, with many saying they would not like to see American-style television advertisements. Some 48 per cent of the 100 GPs polled by Irish Medical Times said they... Read more

GP fees face €70m cut

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2010

Cuts in fees paid to GPs may total up to €70 million this year. The Government expects the 8 per cent cuts to GPs’ professional fees, introduced last year, to yield €34.13 million in savings in 2010. A further cut... Read more

Revenue may cripple co-ops

Niamh Mullen | 12 February 2010

Tax advisors to the MIDOC GP co-op say the cost of HSE-funded out-of-hours services will increase by 40 per cent if the Revenue Commissioners wins the case on the tax treatment of locums. “One wing of the Government will have... Read more

GPs favour teen health rights

Brian Herron | 12 February 2010

Over two-thirds of GPs believe that some form of legislation should be introduced to allow teenagers to consent to or refuse medical treatment, including the ‘morning-after’ pill. However, only a small minority of those who felt that legislation was undesirable... Read more

GP training key to primary care roll out - Oireachtas report

Dara Gantly | 11 February 2010

An immediate expansion of GP training places to a minimum of 150 is needed if the target of having 542 primary care teams (PCT) operating by the end of 2011 is to be reached, according to a new report. Published... Read more

GP services to be measured by HSE

Dara Gantly | 10 February 2010

The HSE Service Plan has committed the Executive to the development and reporting of additional performance measures in 2010, include new measures in primary care. There will be a range of new statistics in the quality and clinical care area,... Read more

HSE pledges 'first-class primary care'

Dara Gantly | 10 February 2010

HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm envisages that there will be almost 400 primary care teams in place by the end of 2010. Commenting after the approval of the HSE’s National Service Plan this week, Prof Drumm indicated that new primary... Read more

Centralisation aims to deal with medical cards in 15 days

Niamh Mullen | 05 February 2010

Health Minister Mary Harney has said that when the medical card application process is fully centralised, the HSE will aim for a turnaround time of 15 working days with provision for immediate processing of emergency applications. “The HSE has no... Read more

New system sees fall in GP smears

Brian Herron | 04 February 2010

The majority of Irish GPs have reported a drop in the number of smear tests performed following CervicalCheck’s switch to call/recall. Many GPs claimed the fall-off has been ‘dramatic’ — an 80 per cent reduction in some cases.... Read more

Recession bites as almost half of GPs report seeing fewer private patients

Niamh Mullen | 04 February 2010

Family doctors have seen a dramatic increase in the number of medical-card patients they have treated over the last 18 months, while the number of private consultations continues to fall for most. The impact of the current recession is that... Read more

Reilly is top choice for Health Minister

Brian Herron | 04 February 2010

The majority of Irish GPs think that Dr James Reilly should be the next Minister for Health, according to a survey conducted by Irish Medical Times. The Fine Gael TD, and former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, was picked... Read more

GPs Keane for cancer czar to replace Drumm

Niamh Mullen | 04 February 2010

Most GPs would like to see the former head of the National Cancer Control Programme Professor Tom Keane become the next CEO of the HSE (see left). In a poll of GPs undertaken by Irish Medical Times, 55 per cent... Read more

Next HSE chief should prioritise primary care

Brian Herron | 04 February 2010

When the new CEO of the HSE takes up the post in August, most GPs hope the new recruit will focus on developing primary care. Unsurprisingly, some 49 per cent of family doctors polled by IMT said it should be... Read more

Co-op to challenge tax ruling

Niamh Mullen | 28 January 2010

A GP co-op has decided to challenge the Appeals Commissioners’ decision that it must deduct PAYE from doctors providing out-of-hours cover. MIDOC will contest the ruling — which was made by the Revenue Commissioners and upheld by the Appeals Commissioners... Read more

Eight-month delay for medical cards

Niamh Mullen | 13 January 2010

Delays of up to eight months to have a medical card application processed have been reported in parts of Dublin where the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) is centralised. GP Dr Ray Walley, who practises in the north inner city... Read more

Teenagers should be able to get contraception from GPs

Gary Culliton | 11 January 2010

The Law Reform Commiss-ion has proposed that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to consent to and refuse medical treatment, including surgery and contraception. While 14- to 15-year-olds should be able to consent to and refuse medical treatment, this should... Read more

Work still to do on advertising - ICGP

Niamh Mullen | 06 January 2010

The ICGP has expressed some reservation about GPs advertising their prices, following the relaxation of restrictions by the Medical Council. “The question of pricing is not a matter for the ICGP, but the manner in which such is promoted or... Read more

Post to link primary and secondary care

Niamh Mullen | 05 January 2010

The ICGP believes a new GMS contract is urgently needed, because the current one does not encourage or support disease prevention and health promotion activities. In a submission to the Department of Health on Resource Allocation and Funding in the... Read more

GPs are warned of further cuts in fees

Niamh Mullen | 27 December 2009

Doctors can expect further cuts in professional fees next year after the announcement in Budget 2010 that the Government wants to save at least €56 million on payments to professionals. IMO GP Committee Chairman Dr Ronan Boland said the IMO... Read more

Lifestyle counselling may open 'can of worms'

Niamh Mullen | 17 December 2009

Patient resistance, insufficient time, a lack of funding and training are the main barriers GPs see to counselling patients about their bad habits such as smoking, drinking and being overweight. A new study, published in the journal Family Practice found... Read more

PC centres are 'virtual' — FG

Niamh Mullen | 16 December 2009

The number of contracts signed for primary care centres has been disputed by Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly. He said the claim that there were 90 centres was false and that most teams in place were ‘virtual in... Read more

Easier advertising restrictions could hurt young GPs

Niamh Mullen | 04 December 2009

Easing of the advertising restrictions on doctors has provoked concern that younger GPs could have difficultly competing with established practices that have greater capacity to advertise services.... Read more

GPs should offer vaccine to all women of childbearing age

Niamh Mullen | 04 December 2009

GPs should offer the swine flu vaccine to all women of childbearing age, chair of the ICGP Education Committee, Dr Mary Favier, has said. “The advice is when a woman comes in for a pill prescription you should offer her... Read more

Young GPs usually treat themselves

Niamh Mullen | 03 December 2009

Most new GPs usually treat themselves, a survey by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has found. Around a third said they had a GP but usually treated themselves. Another 14 per cent said they usually treated themselves.... Read more

Tendering for GMS will corporatise primary care

Dara Gantly | 03 December 2009

Putting GMS contracts out to tender would pit ‘GPs against GPs’ and doctors against medical corporations in ‘bidding wars’ for state contracts, the IMO has warned. The union believes the proposal, contained in the McCarthy Report, would lead to the... Read more

Concern over co-op entry criteria for GPs

Niamh Mullen | 03 December 2009

Young GPs have expressed concern about reports that an establishing GP was refused access to a co-op after it changed its entry criteria. It is understood the co-op in question changed its entry criteria from any GMS doctor to requiring... Read more

HSE ignites controversy on out-of-hours claims

Niamh Mullen | 25 November 2009

The HSE has accused GPs of making out-of-hours claims for consultations during or overflowing from scheduled surgery hours, rather than for urgent consultations. In a letter, the Executive told GPs normal surgery hours may need to be reviewed to meet... Read more

1.5m hold medical cards at cost of €1,650 each

Niamh Mullen | 25 November 2009

The number of medical card holders has reached almost 1.5 million, ahead of the result of a review of medical card eligibility due shortly. From January to September 30 this year, 96,621 medical cards were issued.... Read more

Locums must have PAYE deducted

Niamh Mullen | 19 November 2009

There are concerns GP co-ops could incur increased staff costs because locums working at one out-of-hours service have been deemed employees by tax officials. The Appeals Commissioners has upheld a decision by Revenue that MIDOC, which operates in Longford and... Read more

One million still can't access out-of-hours GP

Niamh Mullen | 10 November 2009

More than one million people in Ireland still do not have access to a formal GP out-of-hours service. Last year approximately 920, 000 calls were made to out-of-hours services, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE). In its Report Against... Read more

Email adverse reactions - IMB

Dara Gantly | 10 November 2009

GPs have been advised by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) to report electronically any suspected adverse reactions to the H1N1 (swine flu) influenza vaccines, as the postal system may well be disrupted by the pandemic. The Board stressed that as... Read more

Primary care breakdown

Niamh Mullen | 06 November 2009

The relationship between GPs and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the Dublin North East region has broken down ‘irretrievably’ with only 16 primary care teams (PCTs) functioning in the area. And only three of those teams are operating in... Read more

GPs need clarification on swine flu

Gary Culliton | 23 October 2009

The IMO has written to the HSE and the three main medical indemnity/insurance bodies seeking clarification in relation to twelve questions on H1N1 flu vaccination. Concerns have arisen argely in relation to indemnity issues. The IMO told the Medical Defence... Read more

GPs should get tax incentive to join PCTs

Niamh Mullen | 22 October 2009

GPs need a tax incentive to move from their established surgeries into the new primary care centres being built around the country, Irish Medical Times has been told. Rhonellen Developments is the preferred developer to build four primary care centres.... Read more

Negotiations ended for four primary care centres

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2009

The HSE has concluded negotiations for four major primary care developments in Dublin and they have now achieved banking support, the Executive’s Director of Estates Mr Brian Gilroy told the Oireachtas Health Committee last week. “There was a slowdown in... Read more

GP letter a 'matter of regret'

Niamh Mullen | 09 October 2009

The ICGP has said it is a matter of regret that the Department of Health wrote to GPs offering E10 for every swine flu vaccine they administer without any engagement with the IMO. In a statement, the College said it... Read more

GPs face changes to entry provisions to GMS scheme

Niamh Mullen | 08 October 2009

Changes to the entry system for the GMS Scheme, which aim to improve access for young GPs and give patients more choice, have been announced by Health Minister Mary Harney. Changes to retirement rules also mean that as of October... Read more

Massive reduction in GP smear test numbers

Niamh Mullen | 30 September 2009

GPs believe there has been a massive reduction in the number of smear tests being carried out since CervicalCheck moved to a call/re-call system on September 1. A practice manager told Irish Medical Times they had only seen four women... Read more

North GPs agree vaccine payment

Dara Gantly | 30 September 2009

GPs in Northern Ireland have agreed a payment of Stg£5.25 (E5.90) for administering each dose of swine flu vaccine, under a new UK-wide deal negotiated last week (September 14). The additional payment will come from the UK’s Department of Health... Read more

General practice is not the place to tackle obesity

Niamh Mullen | 23 September 2009

Broaching obesity in GPs’ surgeries often has no effect, particularly if the doctor is overweight themselves. Cork-based GP Dr John O’Riordan told delegates at the RCPI/RCSI Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine Annual Scientific Conference that from a primary care... Read more

GP charges for medical certs among complaints

Niamh Mullen | 23 September 2009

A lack of transparency in allocating public nursing home places, charges by GPs for sick certs for medical card holders and ‘discourteous treatment by community welfare officers’ are among complaints received by the Citizens Information Board. The latest quarterly report... Read more

GPs worried they will have to turn away high-risk women from CervicalCheck

Niamh Mullen | 22 September 2009

There is genuine concern among GPs that they will have to turn away high-risk, vulnerable women who want smear tests but do not have an invitation from CervicalCheck. That’s according to a letter from ICGP chief executive Fionan O’Cuinneagain to... Read more

Women with breast changes urged to see GPs quickly

Niamh Mullen | 21 September 2009

Underestimating the seri-ousness of a change in their breast is the most common reason why women delay going to see their GP. Research conducted by Athlone Institute of Technology, in association with the Irish Cancer Society (ICS), found a majority... Read more

HSE says it tried to engage midwest GPs in emergency plans

Niamh Mullen | 18 September 2009

The HSE has said it made several attempts to meet with GPs in the midwest over concerns about roles attributed to them in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for emergencies. It also said it requested, on several occasions, that GPs ‘engage... Read more

Kerry GP to give keynote at St Petersburg meeting

Dara Gantly | 17 September 2009

Kerry GP Dr David Buckley is to give the keynote address at the XV World Congress of Cryosurgery in St Petersburg next month. The GP from Tralee, who has a special interest in dermatology, was chosen by the International Society... Read more

Patients cannot shop around for GPs

Niamh Mullen | 14 September 2009

Patients are vulnerable to whatever charges are levied by their GP because they often do not have the option of shopping around for more competitive rates. A report from the Citizens Information Board said GP charges had raised concerns among... Read more

Primary Care Centres under consideration

07 September 2009

The HSE has said that approximately 200 new Primary Care Centres are currently under consideration following the initiation of a programme to procure centres, following Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm’s announcement that 530 Primary Care Teams will be operational by... Read more

Taxi blood samples age on trip to Cavan

Gary Culliton | 04 September 2009

GPs in the Monaghan area report that they are experiencing a huge increase in the number of bloods saying ‘aged samples’, as bloods are taken by taxi to Cavan. The HSE has admitted that samples taken at a GP surgery... Read more

Mallow gets new primary centre

Niamh Mullen | 02 September 2009

Mallow Primary Health-care Centre (MPHC) is due to open in January 2010 with the creation of 50 new jobs. The E25 million centre comprises three local GP practices, including 17 GPs and eight nurses. In total, 90 people will be... Read more

GPs worried about roles in HSE SOPs

Niamh Mullen | 01 September 2009

GPs in the mid-west are worried they are not trained or insured to carry out roles attributed to them in emergencies and specified in HSE Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). IMO GP Committee member, Dr Mary Gray, who is based in... Read more

ICGP recruiting Project Director for cancer

26 August 2009

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is recruiting a Project Director for the ICGP/National Cancer Control Programme. Applicants should be a GP with MICGP or equivalent qualification and experience in primary care. Candidates should also be interested in teaching,... Read more

Group to review card criteria

Niamh Mullen | 25 August 2009

A steering group reviewing eligibility criteria for medical cards is expected to report to Health Minister Mary Harney in the ‘next couple of months’, according to a spokesperson for the Department. The Department of Health said the review was taking... Read more

GP Survey: GPs opposed to GMS tendering

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

‘Ludicrous’, ‘dreadful’, ‘a disgrace’ and ‘not workable’ were some of the words used by 70 per cent of GPs who said they would be opposed to competing in an open tender process to secure GMS contracts. The recommendation by An... Read more

GP Survey: 40% supportive of legal diamorphine

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

More than 40 per cent of GPs said they might support with conditions the legal availability of diamorphine to heroine addicts but most would not favour the legalisation of cannabis or the sale of statins over-the-counter in pharmacies. Some 41... Read more

GP Survey: Most GPs provide free services

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

Pro-bono services outside the GMS contract are being provided by more than three-quarters of GPs. Blood testing, warfarin monitoring and the management of chronic diseases is being carried out for free for medical card holders by 76 per cent of... Read more

GP Survey: Obesity is Ireland's greatest health threat

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

Obesity is the greatest health threat facing the Irish population in the long term, according to GPs. Some 60 per cent cited ‘obesity’ as the greatest threat in the latest survey of GPs by Irish Medical Times. This was followed... Read more

GP Survey: GPs strongly oppose cuts in the one health service area that works

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

An Bord Snip Nua’s recommendation for cuts in the health service of E1.2 billion is accepted by more than half of GPs but they are opposed to cuts of E577 million in general practice. Asked by Irish Medical Times if... Read more

GP Survey: Harney's rating keeps dropping and dropping

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

If you thought Health Minister Mary Harney’s approval rating in the eyes of GPs could not get any worse, think again. The latest survey of GPs by Irish Medical Times shows 90 per cent rate her performance as ‘very poor’... Read more

GP Survey: GPs’ opinion of Prof Drumm falls again

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

GPs’ opinions of the performance of HSE Chief Executive Professor Brendan Drumm have worsened significantly since the beginning of this year. A total of 70 per cent of GPs rated his performance as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’. That is an... Read more

GP Survey: Keane scores highly despite Sligo closure

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

Cancer expert Professor Tom Keane’s approval rating has reached a high as he nears the finish of his contract as Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme. Some 86 per cent of GPs said he was ‘satisfactory’, ‘above average’... Read more

GP Survey: Opinions vary on length of government

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009

Almost two-thirds of GPs think the Government will fall within a year. More than a third (34 per cent) said they thought it would remain in office for one more ‘full year’. However, 28 per cent reckoned they would be... Read more

New GMS panels to be advertised

Dara Gantly | 21 August 2009

The first of a possible 11 new GMS panels is due to be advertised this weekend, Irish Medical Times has learned. The notice for the new GMS post for Citywest in Dublin is due to appear on August 23, the... Read more

GPs fear rejecting at- risk women

Niamh Mullen | 14 August 2009

GPs fear they will have to turn away vulnerable, high-risk women who do not have an invitation when Cervical Check moves to a call/re-call system next month. A female GP told Irish Medical Times vulnerable women would suffer because they... Read more

GPs concerned about swine flu threat - survey

Niamh Mullen | 11 August 2009

Most GPs are very concerned about their practices’ ability to cope if the predicted increase in the number of swine flu patients materialises in the coming months. Irish Medical Times latest survey of GPs found 45 per cent were ‘very... Read more

Drimnagh primary centre trimmed

Dara Gantly | 10 August 2009

Developers behind a proposed new primary care centre in Dublin 12 have reduced the height of the development by two storeys in order to satisfy the planning authorities. Dublin City Council (DCC) has received a fresh application to develop a... Read more

Department to clarify cut factors

Dara Gantly | 10 August 2009

The Department of Health is to write to GP representatives setting out the factors that were taken into account in deciding to reduce by eight per cent most fees and allowances paid to GPs. Following a long-awaited meeting with Minister... Read more

Public to be asked about GP competition

Niamh Mullen | 06 August 2009

A public consultation on competitiveness in general practice is due to commence in the coming weeks. The consultation, organised by the Competition Authority, ‘will pose questions about potential changes to regulations and practices to enhance competition for the benefit of... Read more

Stroke of genius for PCT increase

Dara Gantly | 31 July 2009

The HSE has achieved a 28-fold increase in the number of primary care teams (PCTs) in development, with a stroke of a pen. In March, it had three PCTs in development, but increased this to 84 the following month. According... Read more

HSE shows lack of understanding about GPs' work

Niamh Mullen | 30 July 2009

A lack of knowledge and understanding of the work of general practitioners has been shown by the Health Service Executive during the Transformation Programme. That is according to the Chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), Dr Mark... Read more

Contract should be phased out

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009

Existing contracts with GPs should be phased out to save €370 million, according to An Bord Snip Nua. The report of the expenditure review body said it should be done as quickly as possible to achieve ‘a price acceptable and... Read more

‘Sick card’ would require law change

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009

BASING Medical Card eligibility criteria on medical need would change it into a ‘sick scheme’ and require a change of legislation, GP and former IMO President Dr Martin Daly has said. “If that were to be carried through, it would... Read more

Tendering proposals would 'dismantle' GMS

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009

Proposals from An Bord Snip Nua to scrap GMS contracts and invite tenders by open competition to provide services would cause the ‘dismantling’ of general practice in Ireland. Dr Martin Daly, GP and former IMO President, said: “It would amount... Read more

'Scrap GP rostering grant' — An Bord Snip

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009

The HSE has targeted overspending in the West/North West and Midwest networks in an effort to address its current deficit of €83.2 million. According to the latest financial figures presented to the HSE Board last week, the Executive recorded total... Read more

Overspending in some HSE areas targeted

Niamh Mullen | 17 July 2009

Scrapping a ‘rostering grant’ paid to GPs under the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) is among the cuts said to be recommended in An Bord Snip Nua’s report. Separately, the PCRS itself suggested to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) discontinuing... Read more

HSE reviewing co-ops to 'achieve efficiencies'

Niamh Mullen | 17 July 2009

A review of the country’s 13 GP co-ops is being undertaken by the Health Service Executive to achieve administrative efficiencies. A HSE Project Team has met all GP co-ops and extended hours services in the country. “Further consultations will take... Read more

Changing medical card eligibility would require change of legislation

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009

Basing medical card eligibility criteria on medical need would change it into a ‘sick scheme’ and require a change of legislation, GP and former IMO President Dr Martin Daly has said. “If that were to be carried through, it would... Read more

Scrapping GMS contracts would 'dismantle' general practice

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009

Proposals from An Bord Snip Nua to scrap GMS contracts and invite tenders by open competition to provide services would cause the ‘dismantling’ of general practice in Ireland. GP and former IMO President, Dr Martin Daly, said: “It would amount... Read more

Bord Snip Nua recommends phasing out of existing GP contracts

Niamh Mullen | 16 July 2009

GPs should record BMIs of women

Niamh Mullen | 03 July 2009

GPs should record the body mass index (BMI) of every woman on the contraceptive pill and not just their weight, the ICGP Summer School heard. Dr Deirdre Lundy of the Bray Women’s Health Clinic said there had been a case... Read more

Gender turnaround for GPs

Dara Gantly | 26 June 2009

A new report analysing the labour market for healthcare professions has predicted that by 2020, the current gender distribution of GPs will be reversed in favour of females with a ratio of 65:35. This projected dominance by women, together with... Read more

ICGP to examine Specialist Register

Niamh Mullen | 15 June 2009

The Irish College of General Practitioners is to establish the number of GPs not listed on the Medical Council’s Specialist Register with a view to working out a process to make them eligible for inclusion. “The College plans to review... Read more

Collapse’ of practice in rural areas

Niamh Mullen | 12 June 2009

DOCTORS fear the collapse of general practice in rural areas following the removal of the ‘reciprocal agreement’ from the Medical Practitioners Act. The fears were expressed in a submission to the Medical Council made as part of the response to... Read more

Funds allocated for Cork health centre

Dara Gantly | 09 June 2009

A capital allocation of €250,000 has been granted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to complete the design phase and progress to tender on a new health centre in Carrigaline, Co Cork. Approval was received from Brian Gilroy, HSE National... Read more

Director of NEGs appointed

Niamh Mullen | 27 May 2009

Galway-based GP Dr Sinead Murphy has been appointed Director of the ICGP Network of Establishing GPs (NEGs) Programme. The programme is designed to support GPs in the first few years of their career and to provide more opportunities for young... Read more

GPs will have to review services after cuts

Niamh Mullen | 22 May 2009

Every GP practice in the country will have to review the services it provides, following cuts to professional fees to general practitioners. That is according to Irish Medical Organisation GP leader Dr Ronan Boland, who was speaking ahead of the... Read more

15-GP primary care centre set to open in Letterkenny in June

Greg Baxter | 21 May 2009

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, was on hand for the launch of a new, 15-GP primary care centre site in Letterkenny. The 19,000 square foot centre, which is set to open in June, is the first of 200 new primary care... Read more

South African doctor is person of the year

Dara Gantly | 15 May 2009

A South African doctor has been named ‘Beara Person of the Year’ after his involvement in an obstetric emergency involving the birth of twin boys. Dr Ernest (EJ) Cranna was nominated by David and Michelle Dudley for services ‘above and... Read more

Beware of ‘sell-out’ says Daly

Terence Cosgrave | 15 May 2009

General Practitioners were warned they should ‘vigilant’ of other GPs and members of the medical profession who might try to de-professionalise primary care, a GP and former President of the IMO has said. Dr Martin Daly — who was speaking... Read more

Delegates nonplussed with HSE plans at AGM

Terence Cosgrave | 14 May 2009

A presentation on future plans for primary care development was greeted with scepticism and world-weariness by GPs at the Irish College of General Practitioners AGM last weekend in the Radisson Hotel in Galway. The presentation — delivered by Brian Murphy,... Read more

Planning sought for new medical centre in D4

Dara Gantly | 13 May 2009

An application for planning permission has been lodged with Dublin City Council for a new 785sqm medical centre and pharmacy in Dublin 4. The development at 240 Merrion Road — the applicants for which include Dr Enda Ryan and Dr... Read more

ICGP to thank Boland for work

Dara Gantly | 11 May 2009

The Irish College of General Practitioners plans to formally acknowledge the ‘immense’ contribution of Dr Michael Boland to the College over the past 25 years at a special event in Dublin next November. The College will be formally acknowledging its... Read more

Sky's the limit for ICGP Lincoln Place expansion

By Dara Gantly | 08 May 2009

The ICGP is exploring the possibility of expanding its current headquarters at Lincoln Place upwards by one floor in order to solve its current accommodation requirements. The provision of sufficient space to accommodate all the activities of the College centrally... Read more

Reduction in fees could result in loss of services

Dara Gantly | 08 May 2009

Any reduction in the fees paid to GPs who attend Defence Forces personnel could result in the withdrawal of the provision of services, the IMO has warned. The union has informed the Department of Defence that it would be ‘inappropriate’... Read more

Curb on new services mooted

Niamh Mullen | 06 May 2009

The increasing demand for new services and information from the ICGP will have to be tempered because of the current economic climate and the New Medical Act, according to the College’s Honorary Treasurer. Dr Abdul Bulbulia made the comments in... Read more

'Get on your bikes' says Kilkenny ICGP

Niamh Mullen | 06 May 2009

Improvements should be made to cycle-tracks to make them safer and encourage more people to ‘get on their bikes’. The Kilkenny Faculty of the Irish College of General Practitioners will propose a motion on the issue at this weekend’s ICGP... Read more

GP training proposal turned down by HSE

Niamh Mullen | 06 May 2009

THE HSE refused to approve a proposal from the ICGP for Phase 2 Training, which would have reduced GP training by two years for doctors who already completed recognised hospital training. Writing in the ICGP Annual Report 2009, Chairman Mark... Read more

IMO seeks GPs' views on creation of new GMS lists

Niamh Mullen | 05 May 2009

GPs’ views are being sought by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) on a HSE proposal to create eleven new GMS lists. Most of the locations proposed are in Leinster. They are Dublin 8, City West, Pearse Street in Dublin 2,... Read more

AGP founder Dr Mary Grehan dies

Dara Gantly | 14 April 2009

Dundalk GP, local politician and founder of the Association of General Practitioners (AGP), Dr Mary Grehan, died last week. Dr Grehan (née Rowe), who was in her early sixties, was originally from Ann Street, Dundalk. She graduated from UCD in... Read more

ICGP set to review CA pilot schemes

Dara Gantly | 08 April 2009

The ICGP is drawing up an official review of two competence assurance (CA) pilots completed by the Medical Council last year. The review is being led by Dr Ailís Ní Riain, the newly appointed Director of Advocacy and Professional Competence,... Read more

HSE: "0ver 10,000 Over 70s Medical Cards returned'

Gary Culliton | 30 March 2009

To date, 10,182 persons have returned their over 70’s medical card to the HSE in compliance with the law ending the automatic entitlement to a medical card for people aged 70 and over, the HSE has said. A further 9,264... Read more

Rise in patients crossing border to see Northern GPs

Niamh Mullen | 27 March 2009

Calls to GP practices in Northern Ireland suggest an increased number of patients from the Republic are crossing the border to see doctors for half the price. A staff member at a surgery in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, close to the... Read more

ICGP seeks Director of Women’s Health

24 March 2009

THE ICGP is looking for a GP to become the College’s new Director of Women’s Health. The candidate will replace former Director Dr Ailís Ní Riain, who has taken up a new position in the College as Director of Advocacy... Read more

Revenue to increase GP tax focus

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009

Doctors will be under increased scrutiny from the Revenue Commissioners now that the construction industry has ground to a halt, a financial expert has warned. David McCaffrey, one of the country’s leading specialist medical accountants, told IMT that the number... Read more

HSE to commission artwork for Tallaght Primary Care Centre

June Shannon | 12 March 2009

The HSE is seeking to commission new artwork to the value of €29,200 for its new Primary Care Centre in Tallaght, Irish Medical Times has learned. Under the provisions of the ‘Per Cent for Art Scheme’ — which states that... Read more

New centres by 2011

June Shannon | 03 March 2009

The HSE has concluded preliminary negotiations with parties interested in supplying accommodation for an additional 44 primary care centres around the country, the full complement of which is due to be rolled out by 2011. According to the minutes from... Read more

Cutbacks are already affecting GP services

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

Cutbacks by the Health Service Executive are already beginning to affect services provided by GPs in primary care. With 68 per cent of GPs stating that they are already experiencing difficulties providing certain services — such as the Heartwatch programme... Read more

Job losses from GP practices expected

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

There have been limited job losses in the primary care sector so far, but GPs do not expect this to be the case for much longer. In the survey conducted by IMT, only 2 per cent of GPs said in... Read more

Medical card issue found contentious

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

Whatever support there may have been from GPs for the Government’s removal of the automatic entitlement of the over-70s to the medical card, it was lost over the manner of its introduction. In any case, the majority of GPs did... Read more

Private patients risking health due to delayed surgery visits

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

‘Private patients don’t get sick anymore’ was how one doctor described the reaction of patients to the economic recession. In response to the question: ‘Do you feel patients are delaying a visit to your practice due to financial issues?’, the... Read more

Downturn is affecting health

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

The economic recession is already having a huge impact on people’s health, with more than three-quarters of all GPs reporting that they have had patients presenting with illnesses related to the recession. ‘Definitely, definitely, definitely,’ replied one GP when asked... Read more

South Infirmary issue hits a nerve in Cork

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

Despite activism by GPs in their local areas around the country, it would seem that the majority are in favour of the National Cancer Control Programme, which seeks to create regional centres of excellence for various forms of cancer and... Read more

GPs will not lower fees

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

GPs are not keen to ‘share the pain’ of the economic recession, with 58 per cent saying they would be unwilling to re-negotiate the GMS contract or reduce their fees to private patients. Only 10 per cent said they would... Read more

Responsibility main issue in prescribing

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009

GP are generally not in favour of allowing nurses and pharmacists greater prescribing powers in order to free up their own time. The major issue in this regard for GPs was the issue of responsibility, with many questioning where the... Read more

Experts to address meeting on academic general practice

June Shannon | 25 February 2009

The 12th annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland (AUDGPI) will take place this Friday (February 27) at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin. Hosted by Prof Tom Fahey, Professor and... Read more

Harney's performance rating drops further

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009

It was an ambitious target — like many set in the health service — but Minister Mary Harney has managed to sink even lower in her performance rating by Irish GPs — despite her previous poor showings. The results of... Read more

HSE CEO beginning to Drumm up GP support

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009

The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Prof Brendan Drumm, is beginning to turn around opinion of his performance among the medical profession, as GPs for the first time give him a marginal positive rating. Prof Drumm will still have... Read more

GPs 'Keane' on Cancer Strategy performance

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009

Prof Tom Keane has performed well as the Head of Ireland’s Cancer Strategy — at least, according to GPs across the country. Anyone who had witnessed the reception afforded to Prof Keane at last May’s AGM of the Irish College... Read more

Most GPs have poor opinion of Cowen

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009

It will not come as much of a surprise to anyone that doctors share the general opinion of the rest of the country’s citizens in their poor view of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Two-thirds of all respondents rated the Taoiseach’s performance... Read more

Almost half of GPs say that Lenihan is 'poor'

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan seems to have generally avoided GPs’ odium through the introduction of the 1 per cent income levy, but since the survey was conducted before it was revealed that he had not read the report on... Read more

Call for entries for Aviva Health's Quality Improvement Awards

June Shannon | 18 February 2009

The ICGP, in association with Hibernian Aviva Health, is inviting entries for the fifth annual Quality Improvement Awards. Entries for the 2009 Awards are invited from projects that detail improvements or innovations implemented in a general practice setting in Ireland,... Read more

HSE publishes manuals to help with running a busy general practice

June Shannon | 17 February 2009

The HSE Dublin Mid–Leinster region has launched two new publications for GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and administrative staff, aimed at helping them with the running of a busy practice. The publications Practice Manager Manual and Practice Nurse Information Booklet... Read more

Gangs target doctors' homes

Dara Gantly | 13 February 2009

A gang of criminals are suspected of targeting the homes of doctors in a series of sophisticated raids across the country. Gardaí are investigating a burglary in the Claremorris area of Mayo on the evening of December 16 and a... Read more

Primary-care plan on target

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2009

The HSE is planning to have a Primary Care Team for every 8,000 people in all parts of the country, the Oireachtas Select Committee on Health heard recently. A programme to procure Primary Care Centres to accommodate the emerging teams... Read more

Call for nominations to ICGP Council

11 February 2009

The ICGP is calling for nominations for election to its Council from all GP members, following the creation of three member-representative positions. All ICGP members in good standing as at December 31, 2008 are eligible to apply for the positions... Read more

ICGP calls for services before reconfiguration

June Shannon | 09 February 2009

The ICGP has called for a significant investment in Primary and Community Care to be put in place before the Health Service Executive carries out its planned reconfiguration of secondary care around the country. It also wants savings accrued in... Read more

Only five primary care teams share the same building

Gary Culliton | 09 February 2009

Only five primary care teams are co-located in the same building, eight years after the Government’s primary care plan was announced, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children heard last week. By the end of January, around 113 of... Read more

ICGP calls for services before reconfiguration

June Shannon | 06 February 2009

HSE to fastrack UK GPs into Irish system

Gary Culliton | 06 February 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working with the ICGP to fast track doctors through a programme where they would be available for general practice. A GP recruitment campaign has also commenced in the UK, where the HSE is advertising... Read more

GP shortage poses threat to communities

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2009

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has said the current shortage of GPs poses a threat to the ability of primary care to meet the increasing needs of their communities. Therefore, there is a need for a Workforce Education,... Read more

General Practice is ideal setting for research

June Shannon | 05 February 2009

Service GPs should be supported and encouraged to carry out research in general practice, according to Limerick GP and GP Trainer with the Mid West Training Programme, Dr Kieran Murphy. Speaking at the recent University of Limerick’s Graduate Medical School’s... Read more

Overwhelmed GPs receiving more cards

Gary Culliton | 03 February 2009

Dr Martin Daly of the Irish Medical Organisation last week told the Oireachtas Select Committee on Health that the HSE is trying to save money by giving lists of medical card patients to GPs who already have large numbers on... Read more

Patients asking for anabolic steroids

Gary Culliton | 29 January 2009

Some 12 per cent of Irish GPs indicated that they had received a request for anabolic steroids from a coach or an athlete without medical indications, a DCU survey, reported in the Irish Medical Journal, has found. A further six... Read more

Only five primary care teams work from same centre

Gary Culliton | 29 January 2009

Only five primary care teams are co-located in the same building, eight years after the government's primary care plan was announced, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children heard yesterday. By the end of January, around 113 of the... Read more

Fundraiser to help homeless services

June Shannon | 27 January 2009

Doctors and healthcare professionals are invited to beat the winter and credit-crunch blues while helping to support the development of primary care services for the homeless by attending a special night of comedy in Dublin next month. ‘Comedy CraicDown’ will... Read more

Women’s Health Council calls for increase in GPs

June Shannon | 26 January 2009

The Women’s Health Council (WHC) has called for the implementation of the Primary Care Strategy ‘as a matter of urgency’ and an increase in the number of GPs practising in Ireland. In its submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on... Read more

Capitation fee set far closer to IMO claim than HSE demand

Gary Culliton | 20 January 2009

The new capitation fee for GPs treating medical card patients over the age of 70 is far closer to the IMO's demand than to the fee the HSE set out to achieve in the recent Eddie Sullivan process. The HSE... Read more

Ireland’s largest primary care centre opens in Naas

June Shannon | 20 January 2009

The Minister for Health Mary Harney is due to officially open what has been heralded as Ireland’s ‘largest dedicated primary care centre in Ireland’ next month. The €25 million Vista Primary Care Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare will be officially... Read more

Health groups invited to Oireachtas hearings

20 January 2009

A number of health groups and organisations have been invited to come before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health next week to discuss their submissions to the committee’s Report on Primary Medical Care in the Community. According to the Joint... Read more

New fee of €308.76 for over 70s medical cards

Gary Culliton | 13 January 2009

GPs are this week being notified in writing of a new single capitation fee for over 70s medical cards. The new rate will be €308.76. This follows an agreement between the Government and the IMO to end medical 'gold cards'.... Read more

Irish men neglect health by missing GP check-ups

June Shannon | 08 January 2009

Almost half a million, or more than 450,000, Irish men have never visited a GP for a general health check-up, according to new research. The research also found that of those who had never attended a GP, approximately 250,000 said... Read more

40 new primary centres in 2008

Dara Gantly | 07 January 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) expected to approve a total of 40 new primary care centres by the end of 2008 through lease arrangements with third parties. To date, 10 applications have been approved by the Board of the HSE... Read more

IMO and IPU clash over ailments scheme

Gary Culliton | 01 December 2008

A major row has erupted between the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), with the IMO lashing the proposed National Minor Ailments Scheme. Under the scheme, the State’s bill for reimbursing the cost of medicines ‘will... Read more

GPs lack experience when treating workplace stress

Greg Baxter | 27 November 2008

GPs do not have the experience to deal with stress in the workplace, and typically give patients sick notes and medication for stress, an expert in the organisational psychology told the RCPI. Prof Cary Cooper told the Faculty of Occupational... Read more

Guidelines launched at ICGP Winter Meeting

26 November 2008

Last Saturday’s ICGP Winter Meeting saw the launch of three different sets of guidelines for GPs: ‘Asthma Control in General Practice’, ‘Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Patients: The Issues for General Practice’ and ‘CervicalCheck: the National Guide for Smeartakers’. Copies of... Read more

Patient volumes near capacity at D-Doc

Greg Baxter | 20 November 2008

D-Doc, the north Dublin GP out-of-hours service, is celebrating its two-year anniversary next week, and is already seeing patient volumes near capacity, said Dr Mel Bates, the medical director of Northdoc, which operates the D-Doc service in partnership with the... Read more

Four IT systems for GPs get quality label

Dara Gantly | 19 November 2008

Four general practice IT systems used in the Irish market have achieved the 2008 quality label awarded by the European Institute for Health Records (EuroRec). EuroRec is the European Commission funded-body responsible for the quality accreditation of electronic healthcare record... Read more

Women delaying visits to their GPs

Ian McGuinness | 05 November 2008

Some women who had symptoms of breast cancer delayed going to a GP to receive a check-up because they knew that BreastCheck would arrive in their area in the coming months, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Screening... Read more

Patients unable to access out of hours local co-op services

Greg Baxter | 27 October 2008

A number of patients have been surprised by refusals to be treated at GP co-ops around the country because their GPs have told the co-ops not to treat any of their patients. Irish Medical Times received an email from an... Read more

IMO law change: IPU also demanding direct talks with State

Gary Culliton | 21 October 2008

A major row has erupted, with the Irish Pharmacy Union demanding that it too be allowed to negotiate directly with the HSE about members' fees. "If the Irish Medical Organisation is to be allowed to negotiate directly with the HSE,... Read more

Families struggle to meet costs of healthcare — survey

Terence Cosgrave | 14 October 2008

Irish families are finding the costs of primary healthcare too difficult to meet and increasingly stressful, so much so that they put off visits to the GP, according to new research. The survey found that families believe they are finding... Read more

GPs get €390 extra for 'McCreevy' over 70s Medical Cards

Gary Culliton | 13 October 2008

The Government, as part of proposed cutback measures, is currently considering abolishing automatic entitlement to free GP care regardless of income for everyone in future, once they reach the age of 70. The medical card scheme for over-70s – introduced... Read more

Red tape prevents GP access for the poor

Ian McGuinness | 06 October 2008

Bureaucracy is one of the biggest barriers preventing deprived people from accessing primary care services, a prominent north inner city Dublin GP has told the Irish Social Policy Association’s annual conference. Dr Austin O’Carroll frequently mentioned the homeless, drug users,... Read more

Rural docs gather

Terence Cosgrave | 02 October 2008

The 23rd annual Rural Doctors Conference will take place this year in the Twelve Hotel, Barna, Co. Galway. This year’s academic pro-gramme will feature Dr Anthony J. Kilbane MD, from Ann Arbor Michigan, who will address the conference on the... Read more

Meath GP advises HSE on primary care

Ian McGuinness | 01 October 2008

A Co Meath GP has been appointed as advisor to the HSE’s Primary Care Transformation Programme. Dr Joe Clarke, of Shandon House in Summerhill, told Irish Medical Times he began working in that capacity at the beginning of June. The... Read more

IMO to act on fees for GPs, if allowed

Ian McGuinnness | 26 September 2008

The Irish Medical Organisation is attempting to clarify whether the recently negotiated national partnership agreement will allow it to collectively represent general practitioners in negotiations. Under the agreement, the Government promised to exempt certain self-employed groups from competition law, although... Read more

Irish GP publishes novel

Greg Baxter | 23 September 2008

GP and medical columnist Dr Juliet Bressan has published a novel, called Snow White Turtle Doves, through Poolbeg Press. Dr Bressan is a full-time GP specialising in substance abuse, and works for a drugs and AIDS service she helped to... Read more

Night docs easier to access for commuters

Ian McGuinness | 19 September 2008

Some patients are using North East Doctor On Call simply because it is easier to access than their own doctor’s surgery and they have to wait less time to see a GP. The issue was discussed at NEDOC’s annual general... Read more

Cross-border GP scheme to be extended soon

Ian McGuinness | 19 September 2008

Talks are under way to try to extend a cross-border GP out of hours scheme currently operating in Monaghan and south Armagh. The AGM of North East Doctor On Call — which took place last week in Trim, Co. Meath... Read more

'Ill-equipped' new GPs to get helping hand at conference

11 September 2008

MOST establishing GPs feel ill-equipped to cope with the realities of general practice in Ireland today, according to Dr Shane McKeogh, Project Director of the ICGP’s Network of Establishing GPs (NEGs). Speaking to Irish Medical Times ahead of the upcoming... Read more

GPs should push First Aid courses

Alan Deeley | 04 September 2008

GPs around the country can impart some simple and potentially life-saving advice this week – by telling patients about the Irish Red Cross- accredited first-aid courses starting around the country. The organisation’s Mr Fintan Breen has stated that a sick... Read more

Training key to GP shortage

28 August 2008

Two of every three GPs (66%) see increasing GP training as the way to solve Ireland’s growing shortage of general practitioners. That option was by far the most popular one with the next most popular being ‘part-time flexibility or job-sharing’,... Read more

Harney sinks in GP poll on performance

Terence Cosgrave | 28 August 2008

General practitioners have a lower opinion of the Minister for Health and Children than they did this time last year — according to an exclusive new poll conducted by Irish Medical Times. The poll — which was conducted last month... Read more

Opinion of Drumm's performance falls

28 August 2008

Only one in twenty doctors think Prof Brendan Drumm has been good for the health service, while nearly two in every three believe his performance as Chief Executive has been either ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ in the last year. In... Read more

Communications between GPs and hospitals mostly rated good

28 August 2008

Despite the regular complaints from GPs, it would seem that in the main, there is generally very good communication between general practitioners and hospitals, according to the Irish Medical Times survey. Only two per cent rated their communication as ‘very... Read more

GPs still unsure about transfers to primary care

28 August 2008

The current moves to transfer some services and the management of several chronic diseases from acute hospitals into primary care still have to win the support and/or understanding of most general practitioners. In the IMT survey, 45 per cent said... Read more

GP fees were not part of screening contract talks

Ian McGuinness | 31 July 2008

The fees payable to GPs for participating in Ireland’s cervical screening programme, which is expected to begin in the autumn, did not form part of the discussions between the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS).... Read more

Medical cards on the rise in June

Ian McGuinness | 17 July 2008

Nearly 7,000 more people had a medical card at the beginning of this month compared to the start of June, according to the latest figures from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The statistics show that when July and June’s figures... Read more

Venus compression clinic may re-open

Terence Cosgrave | 26 June 2008

The Venus Compression Therapy Clinic, which had been run from the Orthopaedic Hospital in Clontarf, may be run in future from a different location — according to the doctor who was in charge of the clinic when it closed... Read more

Over 500 primary care teams by end of 2009

Sandra Ryan | 26 June 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has promised to have over 500 primary care teams in place by the end of next year, according to Chief Executive Officer Prof Brendan Drumm. He said that the teams, where it is planned patients... Read more

Preparing for a vital medical interview

Rory Hafford | 22 June 2008

In the first article of a new Irish Medical Times series on communication in medicine, Rory Hafford, Senior Consultant with Carr Communications, looks at the best preparation for the medical interview. Doctors are arguably the most highly-trained and best prepared... Read more

Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine

Dr Charles Dupont | 15 June 2008

Dr Charles Dupont, Consultant Dermatologist, assesses the seventh edition of the classic textbook on dermatology in general medical practice. This classic American textbook is here again with over 300 contributors and many changes from the sixth edition. Most notably, only... Read more

The changing life of the Irish GP

Alan Deeley | 15 June 2008

Alan Deeley speaks to Dr Anthony Cummins, who is asking doctors to contribute to his compilation of stories about the changes in general practice over the years. A new project will assemble the wealth of anecdotes and experience that general... Read more

Why should patients have to wait for urgent tests?

Dr Illona Duffy | 13 June 2008

Dr Illona Duffy thinks that Prof Tom Keane's plans for GPs to take on a bigger role in the care of cancer patients will result in longer waiting times for diagnostic tests — and lower standards of patient care as... Read more

Nursing homes need to be monitored

Sandra Ryan | 13 June 2008

GPs should become more involved in nursing home care, to keep a ‘trail of accountability’ to prevent another crisis like Leas Cross . ‘As we saw in Leas Cross, the Health Service Executive’s first reflex is to report doctors and... Read more

Violence guide launched

Sandra Ryan | 12 June 2008

GPs are probably seeing one or two female patients a week who have experienced domestic violence, but the majority of doctors are not asking the right questions, a conference on women’s health was told at the weekend, where the first... Read more

Life as a GP in Malawi —the warm heart of Africa

Dr Martina Collins | 10 June 2008

Dr Martina Collins writes about her experiences as a volunteer GP in the African country of Malawi, where her daily struggles with a lack of resources were offset by a real sense of making a difference to people's lives. Trying... Read more

GPs relied upon to treat sexual assault victims

Alan Deeley | 29 May 2008

Systems to treat victims of sexual assault rely too heavily on GPs and are ‘in danger of falling apart’, according to Dr Ronan Boland, head of the IMO General Practitioners’ Committee. The HSE’s reliance on GPs to help people in... Read more

Partnerships — the GP assistant's perspective

22 May 2008

General practice as an industry is like many others in so far as it has its own individual foibles and idiosyncrasies. Not least of these oddities is the method by which new partners are recruited to existing partnerships. Anecdotal evidence... Read more

New HQ required for ICGP

20 May 2008

The Irish College of General Practitioners’ current accommodation on Lincoln Place will not be able to meet the future needs of the College, according to the ICGP Chairman, Dr Mark Walsh. Presenting the ICGP Strategic Plan (2008-2013), Dr Walsh said... Read more

Opportunities exist for GPs

Sandra Ryan | 19 May 2008

Sandra Ryan writes that though there are many challenges facing general practice in Ireland today, it is also a time of great potential and opportunity. Some observers might argue that general practice is in the doldrums at present, that morale... Read more

Menopause while women keep going

Sandra Ryan | 01 May 2008

A major new programme of research on the menopause by the Women’s Health Council (WHC) has found that HRT remains the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms - and also found little evidence that over-the-counter and alternative therapies make a... Read more

GPs must be proactive to avoid Tesco-isation

Sandra Ryan | 29 April 2008

The President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) Dr Martin Daly has warned GPs that if they do not become pro-active in developing general practice it could become similar to the NHS, where private companies like the Virgin group are... Read more

GPs effective in chronic disease management

29 April 2008

The Department of Health’s new policy document on chronic disease management (CDM) has found that the current method of service delivery does not meet patient demand for services, and more CDM should take place in the primary care setting. According... Read more

Irish GPs paid well says report

Ian McGuinness | 25 April 2008

GPs in Ireland are paid well when compared to their colleagues in the other original 15 European Union nations, a new report has said. Social Health Insurance: Further Options for Ireland, which was written by researchers at Trinity College Dublin... Read more

GP numbers limit insurance options

Ian McGuinness | 24 April 2008

Ian McGuinness on a new report into the possibility of introducing social health insurance - and the manpower and funding problems the study has highlighted. The private market cannot be relied upon to provide more GPs for rural areas and... Read more

GPs miss Raynaud's

Mary Anne Kenny | 22 April 2008

Patients suffering from Raynaud’s or scleroderma are not getting the medical help they need, with an average diagnosis coming three years after first presenting with symptoms, according to a survey of 1,000 affected patients carried out by the Irish Raynaud’s... Read more

3,500 gain access to medical cards but Dublin loses out

Ian McGuinness | 22 April 2008

Three thousand and five hundred people have gained medical card eligibility. Statistics from the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme show that there were 1,292,086 people with a full card on 1 April, which was an increase of 3,465 when compared to... Read more

Mental health patients visit GPs more often

Greg Baxter | 15 April 2008

People with mental health problems visit GPs more often than people with physical problems, according to a study by the Health Research Board. The HRB National Psycho-logical Wellbeing and Distress Survey found that 10 per cent of all respondents sought... Read more

Cross-border GP initiative could cover entire region

Ian McGuinness | 15 April 2008

Cross border GP co-ops could be expanded throughout the entire border region if an evaluation of the two current pilot projects is favourable, Irish Medical Times understands. An analysis into the workings of the Donegal/Derry co-op (where residents from the... Read more

Galway primary care centres announced

15 April 2008

The Health Service Executive has given details of where primary care centres and buildings are to be constructed in Galway City and the west of the county. The HSE said Knocknacarra (in Galway City), Tuam, Oughterard, south Connemara and Clifden... Read more

GPs' workload a 'danger to health'

Ian McGuinness | 09 April 2008

GPs are in danger of suffering from heart attacks and other medical problems because of the workload that is being foisted on them, a Cork City GP has said. Dr Dan Hinds told Irish Medical Times: “We can’t physically do... Read more

Survey to show Irish GP requirements

Sandra Ryan | 09 April 2008

A major survey of Irish GPs is ongoing in the ICGP, which will reveal the results at a GP conference in Croke Park this month, where current problems in general practice, and how to address them, will be discussed. The... Read more

Target review for care teams

08 April 2008

Targets for the establishment of primary care teams are to be reviewed this year, the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has revealed. The Minister claimed 200 teams were already established. She added that the Government was committed, under the social... Read more

GPs warned to be wary of becoming mentors to nurses prescribing

Sandra Ryan | 02 April 2008

GPs should be wary of becoming ‘mentors’ to nurses training to prescribe, as they may not realise the work it entails, according to the new Chair of the IMO’s GP Committee, Dr Ronan Boland. Doctors at the IMO’s AGM were... Read more

GPs should stop HSE co-operation

Sandra Ryan | 02 April 2008

A Wexford GP has sugges-ted that GPs withdraw their co-operation from the Health Service Executive’s plan for primary care teams, which received strong criticism from doctors at the IMO AGM due to the continued lack of progress on developing the... Read more

Reilly ends 'conflict of interest'

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2008

Fine Gael Health spokes-man Dr James Reilly intends to end his involvement in a proposed primary care centre in Swords, if and when planning permission comes through, because he ‘does not wish to be seen to have a conflict of... Read more

More GPs are needed

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008

The President Elect of the Irish Medical Organisation has warned that there are still significant difficulties in recruiting appropriately qualified doctors from abroad to work in general practice in the Republic. Referring to the failure by the Health Service Executive... Read more

HSE fails to deliver primary care team jobs for graduates

Ian McGuinness | 27 March 2008

Health professionals who should have been working as part of primary care teams may emigrate and be lost by the State, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned. Dr Martin Daly, Chairman of the union’s GP Committee, said: “There is a... Read more

Targets still not reached for doctor-only cards

Ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008

Thirteen additional full medical cards were issued last month for every extra doctor-only card that was granted, it has emerged. There were 8,111 new full cards issued between 1 February and 1 March this year, in comparison to 616 additional... Read more

HSE gets 150 applications for primary care provision

Ian McGuinness | 19 March 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has received 150 expressions of interest from companies and individuals who are interested in providing infrastructure for primary care teams. The HSE issued a tender last December inviting interested parties, who were developing health infrastructure,... Read more

GP trainers may withdraw service

Sandra Ryan | 19 March 2008

GP Trainers are once again considering withdrawing their services from the various GP training schemes, because of the continued delay in negotiating a new contract. Last year, the trainers warned they would withdraw from training schemes unless the Health Service... Read more

GP language service 'poor'

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008

Language services provided to general practitioners by the State have been attacked by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO). Speaking in the aftermath of the launch of the Health Service Executive’s National Intercultural Health Strategy, Dr Martin Daly said: “The picture... Read more

GPs would recommend seminar to colleagues

Terence Cosgrave | 06 March 2008

More than 97 per cent of GPs who attended a seminar in Cork last week would recommend it to a GP colleague, according to a survey conducted at the event in Jury’s Hotel, Cork. 80 GPs attended the seminar organised... Read more

GPs to get extra €23 million in fees

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008

GPs are expected to get an extra €23 million in fees under the medical card scheme this year. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008 show that €439 million is expected to be spent in 2008 on such fees. This... Read more

GPs warned on HSE hasty decisions

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008

GPs have been warned against making quick decisions about signing up to participate in new primary care centres. Dr Martin Daly, Chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee, said the Health Service Executive (HSE) wrote to companies, and groups... Read more

Jobs freeze slows spread of PCTs

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008

Ian McGuinness says that over seven years ago, the Primary Care Strategy promised a network of primary care teams accross the country. But many have yet to materialise Where are the primary care centres that were promised under the Primary... Read more

70 GPs attend Practice Management Seminar in Cork

Terence Cosgrave | 03 March 2008

Eighty GPs attended a seminar in Cork last weekend organised by the Irish Medical Times to help GPs manage their practices more successfully. The seminar 'Managing a successful Practice' was sponsored by AstraZeneca and held in Jury's Hotel on the... Read more

GPs to get the pharmacists' treatment

Sandra Ryan | 29 February 2008

GPs will be treated the same as pharmacists when it comes to deciding on changes to their fee structure, according to Mr Paddy Burke, Assistant National Director of the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, who has confirmed this week that the... Read more

Healthlink service grows

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2008

There has been a 50 per cent rise in the number of doctors using the Healthlink service with 1,307 doctors now signed up to the HSE-funded project, compared to 873 last year. And the service is now being used by... Read more

Approval for new Carlow centre

Ian McGuinness | 27 February 2008

Touchstone Healthcare’s plans for a five-storey primary care building in Carlow town have been granted planning permission, although the decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. The application was submitted to Carlow Town Council in August last year and... Read more

GPs are providing services at a loss

Ian McGuinness | 26 February 2008

Ian McGuinness outlines some how doctors are providing treatments and diagnostics at a considerable financial loss to themselves Every year, details of what GPs earn via the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (formerly the GMS) are published — and rightly so,... Read more

No details given on GP services tender

Ian McGuinness | 26 February 2008

The Health Service Executive has refused to give further details of a tender that it recently issued for the provision of general practitioner consultancy services to its Primary Care Transformation Programme. The HSE said: “This is a live tender and... Read more

Tests costs GP €10,000

Ian McGuinness | 21 February 2008

A county Cork GP has said that by doing work in her surgery that should be performed in a hospital, she is paying out €10,000 per year.Dr Jacqui Glisson, who is based on the North Road in Castletownbere, told Irish... Read more

HSE ‘box-ticking’ on primary care

Ian McGuinness | 19 February 2008

The Health Service Exec-utive is organising primary care teams on the north side of Dublin on the basis of where a doctor’s patients come from rather than on the location of the GP, a prominent family doctor has said. Dr... Read more

Review of PCT targets imminent

19 February 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) will this year conduct a review of its targets set for implementing 500 primary care teams around the country by 2011, according to the Minister for Health Mary Harney. Deputy Brian Hayes (FG Dublin South-West)... Read more

GP results due soon

Sandra Ryan | 13 February 2008

GPs who participated in the Medical Council’s pilot Professional Practice Review (PPR) should receive their results in the next few weeks, according to Dr Linda Sysson, Director of Competence Assurance in the Council. Dr Sysson told IMT that 181 GPs... Read more

GP contract is a 'must-do' issue for Department

Ian McGuinness | 13 February 2008

The Secretary General of the Department of Health appeared to suggest to a recent Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that a new GP contract may be created without negotiations. Mr Michael Scanlan, who was speaking as part of a Department of... Read more

Doctors' doctor celebrates 80 years

Sandra Ryan | 07 February 2008

Sandra Ryan speaks to the now-retired Dr Aiden Meade, who was over 40 years in general practice and helped found the Sick Doctors Scheme There are not many GPs left practising in Ireland who started out in the 1940s or... Read more

Doubts over new nurse prescribing scheme

07 February 2008

Plans to introduce nurse prescribing may be in “serious doubt” due to inadequate doctor supervision, according to Deputy Dr James Reilly, FG Health Spokesperson. Deputy Reilly asked the Health Minister Mary Harney what arrangements are in place to provide doctors... Read more

Primary care on new tender competition

Ian McGuinness | 06 February 2008

The Health Service Executive wants to recruit an individual to provide it with consultancy services in relations to primary care. The tender, which was published recently, said the services would be related to the HSE’s Primary Care Transformation Programme. The... Read more

Discrimination case against GP cleared by Equality Tribunal

By Ian McGuinness | 06 February 2008

The Equality Tribunal has found that a GP did not discriminate against a former patient on disability grounds. The woman who made the complaint is a wheelchair user and was a patient of the doctor for one year. The complainant... Read more

HSE warned on GPs

Sandra Ryan | 01 February 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been asked to reverse their decision not to expand the number of GP training places to a planned 150, as doctors warn the move will have serious repercussions for the specialty. Figures compiled by... Read more

GPs need to do more to fight drug abuse- NACD

Greg Baxter | 01 February 2008

GPs could be doing more in the fight against drug abuse and addiction, the chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) told Irish Medical Times. Dr Des Corrigan said GPs have the opportunity to intervene at the most... Read more

GPs' lists closing due to workload

Ian McGuinness | 18 January 2008

GPs throughout the Republic are closing their public and private lists because of the shortage of general practitioners and the increasing workload faced by those in the sector, the Irish Medical Organisation has said. Dr Martin Daly, Chairman of the... Read more

GP assistants- employees or self-employed?

Barry O'Brien | 11 January 2008

It’s one of those questions that crops up time and again and I’ve yet to hear the definitive answer (probably because one does not exist). More and more frequently, general practices are availing of the services of one or more... Read more

Local care to replace hospital treatments

Greg Baxter | 11 January 2008

All of the 87 primary care teams created in 2007 will be holding clinical meetings by the end of 2008, according to a target in the Health Service Executive’s national service plan for 2008. Less than half of the 87... Read more

New sick doctor chair

Sandra Ryan | 11 January 2008

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has appointed a new chair of their Sick Doctor Scheme, after the retirement of Dr Aiden Meade, who has worked on the project since it began in 1985. His replacement is Dublin GP... Read more

Block on funds for GP training scheme

Sandra Ryan | 11 January 2008

There will be no increase in GP training places this year, despite repeated promises by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide funding to expand the current intake of 121 to 150 in 2008. The steering group on the issue,... Read more

GPs merge for care centre

Ian McGuinness | 11 January 2008

A four-storey primary care centre in Mallow, which will cost more than €20 million to build, has been granted planning permission by Cork County Council. Three general practices in the town applied for permission, which was granted in mid December,... Read more

Touchstone plans rocked

Ian McGuinness | 11 January 2008

The first purpose built, Touchstone model, primary care centre in Dublin has been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála. A Touchstone primary care centre has been operating in Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, since 2004 but it was put into a building... Read more

Pharmacists stop GP plans

Sandra Ryan | 04 January 2008

A group of GPs have been stopped in their plans to co-locate a pharmacy in their practice after objections from local pharmacists in Tralee. The doctors’ initial planning application for the development was approved — until an appeal to An... Read more

Using GP data for research

14 December 2007

According to Dr David Stables, a Director of QResearch in the UK, accurate and up-to-date electronic health records are the cornerstone of the modern GP practice there – supporting the highest quality of care for the individual patient. But these... Read more

Party on with the taxman!

Barry O'Brien | 14 December 2007

It’s that time of year again, when it becomes impossible to ignore that Christmas is on our doorstep and the annual question of the financing of the staff Christmas party has been raised as a discussion topic over coffee. The... Read more

Sligo GPs reject relocation

Ian McGuinness | 14 December 2007

The GPs in the North Sligo primary care team do not want to move to a single location because their patients would have to travel further and the practices could lose some of their “customer base,” the Health Service Executive... Read more

GP outpatient link-up needed

Ian McGuinness | 14 December 2007

The failure to create an integrated primary care system and link GPs to outpatient departments is one reason public patients wait for a long time to see a consultant, it has been claimed. Prof Richard Layte of the Economic and... Read more

USA: GPs' organisation has new plan

Emer Mullins | 07 December 2007

Americans could find a family doctor they like, name that doctor’s office as their medical home and assure themselves of comprehensive care, under a recent plan announced by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). In a report on its... Read more

Cross-border GP co-op a year late

Ian McGuinness | 30 November 2007

The latest cross-border GP co-op to be launched is a year late. The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, welcomed the launch of the South Armagh–Monaghan out-of-hours service, which begins this week. This is the first time people living north of... Read more

GP co-ops need formal cohesion

Ian McGuinness | 30 November 2007

A prominent GP has said that GP co-ops on Dublin’s south side “need to be brought together in a more formal structure”. Killarney GP, Dr Gary Stack, was speaking after the Annual General Meeting of the National Association of GP... Read more

Thousands of patients have assessed their GPs

Greg Baxter | 30 November 2007

Thousands of patients have sent information on doctors to the Medical Council as part of the its competence assurance pilot. Dr Colm Quigley, President of the Council, told Irish Medical Times that the response shows massive interest from the public... Read more

GPs should look out for abuse

Terence Cosgrave | 23 November 2007

GPs should be on the look-out for signs of elder abuse when they are visiting older people in nursing homes, Dr Michael Boland told the Irish College of General Practitioners’ Winter Meeting. He said: “Doctors working in nursing homes should... Read more

GPs should continue to do smears says the IMO

Sandra Ryan | 23 November 2007

GPs should provide smear tests under the soon to be expanded National Cervical Screening Programme, the vice-president of the IMO, Dr Martin Daly, has said. Recently, the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS), the umbrella organisation for cancer screening programmes, announced... Read more

Primary care plan is not thought out

Sandra Ryan | 23 November 2007

The Irish College of General Practitioners has criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) for seemingly “resurrecting” the old primary care strategy without much thought or planning. A detailed statement from the College Council said that while it welcomes the HSE’s... Read more

GPs challenge IMO

Sandra Ryan & Ian McGuinness | 09 November 2007

A number of GPs have come together to call on the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to start negotiating a new GP contract, as they believe waiting for the Health Service Executive to start talks will give it an advantage. Five... Read more

Medical Council is still waiting for volunteers to finish pilot GP project

Greg Baxter | 26 October 2007

Many of the doctors who have volunteered for the Medical Council’s Professional Practice Review Pilot Project have not completed the process, and the council is urging them to do so before the cut-off date of 4 November. Those who do... Read more

GPs do more work for less

Ian McGuinness | 26 October 2007

It would be easy to list the doctors who earned the most from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) last year, or indeed the amount of money paid out by that section of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to GPs... Read more

Tralee GP set to provide dermatological services

Ian McGuinness | 05 October 2007

A Tralee GP has established a new dermatology service in his Kerry clinic. Dr David Buckley’s Ashe Street Clinic now provides medical and surgical dermatology. Last December, Irish Medical Times revealed that 82 per cent of all second opinions for... Read more

Patients satisfied with GPs

Greg Baxter | 05 October 2007

A large patient satisfaction survey has found a high degree of satisfaction from people who access GP services. Satisfaction among inpatients was less positive, and only a small majority of people who accessed outpatient services were satisfied, the survey found.... Read more

NEDOC-HSE medical card row resolved after two years

Sandra Ryan | 28 September 2007

GPs in the North East out-of-hours service (NEDOC) have resolved a two-year row with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over providing services to patients with GP-only medical cards. According to chairperson of the co-op, Dr Ursula Keane, they have negotiated... Read more

Gold standard Dublin clinic

Greg Baxter | 28 September 2007

The Slievemore Clinic in south Dublin is still a building site, but the massive, multi-level structure, when it is finished, will be the gold standard for independent, large group practices. Notably, the Health Service Executive (HSE) could have played a... Read more

New Zealand: Boost for general practice training

21 September 2007

The Royal College of General Practitioners in New Zealand has welcomed the news that the Minister of Health has approved the doubling of the postgraduate training places for general practice to more than 100. The college said the government’s move... Read more

South Dublin doctors set to challenge Touchstone

Greg Baxter | 14 September 2007

A group of independent GPs in south Dublin are challenging Touchstone, the primary care centre development company, and its model of large, all-in-one primary care centres. The Slievemore Clinic in Stillorgan will offer an “eclectic mix of disciplines,” according to... Read more

Health in Practice set for expansion

Colin Kerr | 31 August 2007

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is planning to meet the Medical Council to discuss the expansion of its Health in Practice Programme (HIPP). The HIPP project was established in 2001 under the direction of Dr Andrée Rochfort to... Read more

ICGP HQ to stay put at Lincoln Place

Colin Kerr | 31 August 2007

Irish Medical Times has learned that the Irish College of Practioners is to stay at its present headquarters in Lincoln Place for at least another three years. College officials had been considering moving to a new premises because of pressure... Read more

Doctors' fees keep up with inflation rate

Ian McGuinness | 17 August 2007

Doctors’ fees are keeping pace with inflation, according to the Central Statistics Office. Inflation in the 12 months ending in July 2007 stood at five per cent, doctors’ fees for the same time frame rose by 4.9 per cent. Doctors’... Read more

UK: Shorter hours and rise in pay

Emer Mullins | 17 August 2007

A new report has revealed that British GPs are working an average of seven hours less each week for the National Health Service (NHS) since the introduction of the new contract in 2004. The contract also increased the earnings of... Read more

HSE meets Broadstone GPs

Ian McGuinness | 10 August 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to meet a group of Dublin’s north inner city GPs about their proactive proposal for the establishment of a primary care team in their area, which is one of the most deprived in the... Read more

GPs lack resources to screen pregnant women for diabetes

Greg Baxter | 03 August 2007

GPs in the Mid West have responded angrily to a unilateral decision by the Health Service Executive to begin screening pregnant women for diabetes in GP surgeries rather than hospital antenatal clinics, where this has traditionally been performed. Limerick GP... Read more

Doctors offered investment in plush Parisian district

Ian McGuinness | 03 August 2007

Irish Medical Organisation Financial Services (IMOFS) has offered doctors a property investment in an area commonly referred to as the ‘Kensington of Paris’. IMOFS said the location of the building (92-94 Avenue Paul Doumer, 75016 Paris) is within the 16th... Read more

New Naas centre to be first of several

Greg Baxter | 27 July 2007

A new private primary care centre in Naas, Co Kildare, planned to open in about a year, will provide a large, one-stop medical centre for patients in catchment areas around Dublin. The Vista Primary Care Centre, a €25 million facility... Read more

New proposal for inner city practices

Colin Kerr | 06 July 2007

The ratio of GPs to patients in north inner city Dublin is much poorer than in other areas of Ireland and will get worse unless the Health Service Executive (HSE) supports the establishment of a primary care team working in... Read more

Doctors waste time by telling patients about their personal lives

Greg Baxter | 06 July 2007

Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that primary care doctors waste a lot of time telling patients about themselves. The study, published last month, studied 100 primary care physicians in Rochester, New York. The doctors agreed... Read more

Medical Practitioners Act may cause some problems for locums

Sandra Ryan | 06 July 2007

The Medical Council is to seek advice from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to discuss the position of GP locums following the publication of the Medical Practitioners Act. Irish Medical Times understands that many locums currently working in... Read more

Specific training in STIs needed

Sandra Ryan | 29 June 2007

Although the majority of sexual health services in Ireland are delivered by GPs in the community, such care is often disorganised and under-resourced. Many GPs are screening for and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which have been on the increase... Read more

Former TD set to remain active

Ian McGuinness | 22 June 2007

The former independent Mayo TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, has said he will continue campaigning on local issues and will not disappear from the media spotlight. Speaking to Irish Medical Times, the Mulranny GP, who returned to his general practice after... Read more

Patients reluctant to visit GPs because of fees

Ian McGuinness | 15 June 2007

GPs’ fees stop patients from seeking consultations with doctors, research by the Economic and Social Research Institute has shown. The research, conducted in 2000 and 2004 in the former Western Health Board and Eastern Regional Health Authority, used the granting... Read more

GPs can educate patients on OTCs

Sandra Ryan | 15 June 2007

The media loves to highlight the number of people addicted to over-the-counter painkillers, because it is one of those issues that everyone seems to be waiting to explode. Numerous articles and stories have appeared in the past few years either... Read more

Warfarin dispute is settled in North East

Sandra Ryan | 01 June 2007

GPs in Cavan are the first in the country to have access to a new method of warfarin testing, after settling a dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the North East. Last year, GPs in the area said... Read more

New guidelines for the care of CVD in women

Sandra Ryan | 01 June 2007

GPs have new guidelines for treating cardiovascular disease in women. The Women’s Health Council and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), have produced the document to highlight the difference between CVD in women and men. Accordng to the authors,... Read more

Everything you wanted to know about practice inspections but were afraid to ask

Sandra Ryan | 25 May 2007

The days of voluntary competence assurance (CA) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) are over. With the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) planning primary care inspections in the future and the Medical Council’s ongoing pilot CA scheme, GPs seem to... Read more

GPs criticise Fine Gael health policy

18 May 2007

Proposals by Fine Gael to provide free medical cards for children under five, and free health insurance for children under 16, have been heavily criticised by GPs. Speaking at the ICGP AGM in Galway last weekend, chair of communications at... Read more

ICGP to meet Quality Authority

18 May 2007

The Irish College of General Practitioners will meet the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to discuss assessment of GP practices. Outgoing chairman of the College Dr Eamonn Shanahan said he welcomes proposals by the HIQA to become involved in assessing... Read more

Nurses’ strike impacts on GP access to tests

18 May 2007

GPs are having problems getting their patients access to hospital services because of the ongoing nurses and midwives dispute. Dr Niall O’Cleirigh, a GP in Dublin’s south inner city, said the dispute has created a “significant obstacle” for general practitioners.... Read more

College to draw up guidelines for new GPs

Sandra Ryan | 18 May 2007

The ICGP is drawing an extensive book of guidelines for new GPs trying to set up in practice for the first time. Dr John Ball, Joint Project Director of the ICGP’s Network of Establishing GPs project, told the AGM that... Read more

HSE obsessed with copying the UK’s National Health Service

18 May 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is “obsessed” with copying the NHS in the UK, according to the director of the Postgraduate Resource Centre at the ICGP, Dr Michael Boland. Speaking during a debate about the pressure on GPs, he said... Read more

GP training places will be increased

Sandra Ryan | 18 May 2007

Four GP training programmes will be expanded and a new one created in north Dublin to accommodate demand for GP training and to meet the target of 150 training places by July 2008. Chief Executive of the ICGP Mr Fionán... Read more

Bureaucracy leads to drop in patients

18 May 2007

GPs are losing up to 60 GMS patients a month off their lists, according to the ICGP chair of communications Dr Niall O’Cleirigh. He said that the amount of beurocracy involved in the GMS system means many patients lose their... Read more

GPs must discuss breastfeeding with new mothers

18 May 2007

GPs are not discussing breastfeeding with their antenatal patients as much as they should, according to new research presented at the ICGP AGM. The research was conducted by GP registrar Dr Niamh O’Brien in University College Hospital, Galway, who set... Read more

New guidelines for care of patients who abuse alcohol

Sandra Ryan | 18 May 2007

New guidelines for GPs treating patients with alcohol problems have been launched by the ICGP's Quality in Practice Committee. The guidelines, written by Mr Rolande Anderson, director of the College’s Alcohol Awareness project, the document is aiming to increase the... Read more

College marks the death of a former president

18 May 2007

Tribute was paid at the AGM to former ICGP president Dr Deirdre Murphy who died recently afer a long illness. Dr Murphy, who was president of the College from 2002 to 2003, was also an honorary secretary and treasurer of... Read more

Doctors blamed for insurance 'loading'

Greg Baxter | 18 May 2007

The ICGP has met with the Insurance Industry Federation (IIF), the umbrella body for insurance companies in Ireland, after GPs raised concerns about being blamed by patients when they are ‘loaded’ by an insurance company. Outgoing chairman of the ICGP... Read more

ICGP discusses Traveller health

18 May 2007

The ICGP has met with representatives from the Travelling community on behalf of the ICGP to work out how best to provide services to the group. “The statistics on their health, or lack of it, remain very challenging,” said Dr... Read more

Depressed teenagers are reluctant to visit GPs

18 May 2007

A study examining teenagers attitudes to GP services found although teenagers have high levels of depression, they are reluctant to attend their GPs for help. The research won the annual GP registrar research prize at the ICGP AGM in Galway,... Read more

Strong criticism voiced by GPs over HIQA inspections

Sandra Ryan | 18 May 2007

GPs will soon be inspected by the new Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), as well as the Medical Council, a move that led to strong criticism from some doctors at the ICGP AGM last weekend in Galway. HIQA, which... Read more

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