Sir, –Minister for Health James Reilly is severely compromising community-based GP services throughout Ireland. By further cutting funding to general practice, the HSE and the Minister of Health are fundamentally dismantling the fabric of community medicine in this country. It is time to say stop.
General practice is one of the few aspects of the Irish health system that works well. GPs live and work in local communities. We know the needs of our patients and are delighted to care for them from the cradle to the grave. We act as gatekeepers to the secondary care services. General practice only receives 4 per cent of the total HSE spend on an annual basis, yet 92 per cent of all clinical cases are seen in the primary care setting. (Times) >
Filed under: General practice, Services Tagged: Community
