Government proposals to extend free GP care to children aged between 6 and 7 is a disingenuous move according to a local doctor.
Ballygar based GP, Dr Martin Daly says that a lack of GPs and massive patient numbers make any such proposal an impossibility.
The comments follow the IMO's annual general meeting in Killarney on Saturday, where concerns were heard that the extension of free GP care to 500,000 additional people will lead to longer waits for GP appointments and staff burnout.
According to the organization, the government's own reports show that over a thousand extra GPs are needed for the plan to work.
Speaking to the Joe Finnegan Show today, Dr Daly says the Government is being dishonest over the proposal.
'We are going to have the politicians saying to people, here's a medical card, we are giving you free GP care but on the other hand, knowing in their heart and sole that they will not have access in a timely manner to a GP. Now that is a three card trick and not very honest as you have got to think of capacity as we need more GPs, more practice nurses and we need more physical space to see patience in. We need more investment in IT and much more staff to provide a good quality service to the public.'
