Free care plan ‘to lead to 4m extra visits to GPs’

The Irish Medical Organisation claimed the healthcare system is not structured to cope with such an anticipated increase in GP visits. Research conducted on behalf of the IMO showed there is likely to be a 16% increase in visits to family doctors if the Government extends free GP services to all as planned by 2016. At present, around 24m consultations with family doctors take place in surgeries each year. The survey also revealed that medical card holders and those with GP visit cars are more than twice as likely to visit their family doctor as private patients. (Examiner) >