THE IRISH MEDICAL Organisation (IMO) who represent doctors said that the government need to explain the cabinet memo that states that further funding may be needed for health services so as to ensure “patient safety”.

The Sunday Business Post reported today that the secret cabinet memo states the government will have to “consider further funding measures to ensure a safe and quality health service for 2014″.

Speaking this afternoon, the Chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO Dr. Ray Walley said that the government needed to explain the warnings sounded in the cabinet memo.

Services

The GP Committee also addressed the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Alex White stating yesterday in an interview with Clare Byrne on RTE Radio One that Primary Care Health services need to be resourced.

Dr. Ray Walley said the Minister “can’t talk about the idea of proper resourcing of Primary Care services in theory while ignoring the need in practice”. Dr. Walley said that the Government has systematically reduced resources to General Practice in recent years by over €150 million”.

He added that while it was now welcome that there is a government acknowledgement that more resources are required, he said what is needed now is talks.

Resources

“The Government’s politically inspired stunt to extend free GP services to children under 6 without even attempting to discuss the implications of such a move with the GPs who will have to deliver the service does not give us much confidence that this Government wants to tackle the real need that exists in our health services,” said Dr. Walley, adding, “We want better enhanced resources for General Practice so we can do more for our patients”.

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