65% of GMS GPs have signed under-six contract –HSE update

This equates to 1,574 GPs out of a total of 2,417.

However, in some areas, the number of GPs to have joined the scheme remains extremely low. This includes South Tipperary (12 per cent), Louth (28 per cent) and West Cork (32 per cent).

Areas where the sign-up rate has been especially high include Donegal (96 per cent), North Cork and Sligo/Leitrim (both 91 per cent) and Roscommon (90 per cent).

The HSE says it continues to receive signed contracts from GPs and will update the participating GP list as quickly as possible. The full list of participating GPs is published on www.gpvisitcard.ie.

Meanwhile, registration of children under-six began yesterday and stands at 20,000 as of 3pm this afternoon. The scheme commences on 1 July.

Earlier today, the Executive confirmed that a “technical issue arose last evening in the on-line registration system that resulted in shutting the system for a number of hours overnight”.

Prior to this, “a very small number of people” had sight of some data relating to one other individual’s application. “This matter has been reported to the Data Protection Commissioner as is normal practice in such situations. The matter has been rectified and the system is up and running normally since 7am this morning. The HSE apologises to the families concerned.”