GP protest may cause “significant disruption” to service

The Association predicts “hundreds of GPs from every part of Ireland” will be part of the protest, and that “this will mean that on the day, many GP practices maybe be closed to patients, or will have limited services available”

In a statement today the Associaiton warned that “there is likely to be significant disruption to the GP service around the country on the day of the national protest.”

The Association says the protest is also on “behalf of patients, as the family doctor service is, or has in some areas, completely collapsed.”

Citing cuts in funding in general practice, FEMPI cuts and no new GP contract the NAGP said it has “not chosen this decision lightly but it is vital for us to make the Government and others fully aware that our health system is in crisis and has been so for years.”

“Years of successive cuts in Government funding for general practice have created an inefficient unstructured health system which is collapsing,” the NAGP said in its statement.

“Also, promised extra investment in developing the GP service, like the fairytale promises under Sláintecare, have not even been begun to be delivered, so that the family doctor service can be healthy and sustainable for the future.”