Do the GPs objecting to free care for the under-sixes have a point?

The Minister for Health is delighted that 40,000 children are now registered for free medical care, but Irish doctors are not so impressed.

By Cianan Brennan Monday 22 Jun 2015, 9:31 AM

Jun 22nd 2015, 9:31 AM 17,318 Views 83 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/2174777

Image: Shutterstock/VP Photo Studio

Image: Shutterstock/VP Photo Studio

HEALTH MINISTER LEO Varadkar got into a bit of a spat with some GPs yesterday on Twitter, telling those who object to his scheme of free health care for children aged under six to ‘cop on’.

The National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) is strongly opposed to the scheme, which they claim will lead to already overworked doctors becoming completely swamped. Doctors also claim the government will only talk to the union, the IMO, that most doctors don’t want to be represented by.

Varadkar for his part says that the taxpayer must always come first.

But do the GPs have a point here?

We’re asking: Is the GP care for under-sixes scheme badly flawed?

Poll Results:

Yes (3800)

No (1898)

I'm not sure (1100)

Short URL

About the author:

About the author

Cianan Brennan

@ciananbrennan

cianan@thejournal.ie

See more articles by Cianan Brennan

Contribute to this story:

Send a Correction

COMMENTS (83)

∞

About Us

Corrections

Report Content

Policies

TheJournal.ie supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Do the GPs objecting to free care for the under-sixes have a point?