Mr Donnelly who was appointed the party’s health spokesperson last month, said today that the FEMPI process needs to “begin immediately”.
“A new GP contract could take several years to negotiate,” said Deputy Donnelly.
“It is not appropriate that the reversal of these cuts is used as leverage. FEMPI is already being reversed across the public sector, and indeed in the public health service. GPs are being left out in the cold in this process.
“The strain under which GPs are currently operating means that this cannot wait.”
Deputy Donnelly said that GP services across the country have now “reached a tipping point”.
“This needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. Rather than struggling to keep practices open, GPs should be treating patents and helping to establish an exciting new model of community based care in which they are future leaders.”
According to the <em>Irish Times</em> Minister Harris said today that he expects “many millions’’ more to be invested in general practice from next year.
“GPs are very clearly saying to me, the Government and the country, that they cannot do more unless the existing services are made sustainable,’’ the Minister said.
