A Longford GP is warning that the health service does not have the capacity to cater for a mass influx of patients.
Paul Trueick's comments come as the Department of Health announced plans to extend free GP care to a further 500,000 people.
Under new proposals, all children aged 6 and 7 and households who earn up to a median household income of €47,000 will qualify for free GP visits.
Dr Paul Trueick who's based at the Longford Medical Park, says the sector will not be able to cope with the extra strain on resources.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show, he argues that it will also have a knock-on effect on emergency departments and other care facilities
'First of all, waiting lists to see GPs will be extended, you'll have a waiting list of 2, 3 or even 4 weeks at busy times.
Then what will happen also is that out of hours services will be over run because people who can't see their GP in the daytime will try and access care through the out of hours services.
They are also under pressure of the moment and they wont be able to cope, then you have people going to visit A&Es, and they are over run.'
