Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----I am concerned for the patients because I do not want a free GP service for under six year olds that is only a service in name. The information available to me from the UK is that one can wait seven days for a seven-minute appointment. If I have a sick child under the age of six years - I have had occasion to be that mother - I do not want to wait even for one minute once I know the child is ill. In those circumstances, I have to find a doctor straight away, therefore, I will have to pay unless that person is on my doorstep or local. We have had situations in Galway, with which I am sure the Minister of State is familiar as they have been well documented, whereby we could not get GPs to take up the lists in remote areas. We have situations where many of our young doctors are leaving the country, so why are we seeking to reduce the service which is effectively what will happen?

I want a relationship with a caring GP, not with a bureaucrat. For that reason I support many of Senator John Crown's well-crafted amendments. Perhaps I can speak to one or two specifically. The amendment with which I have great difficulty is the one where GPs would be gagged and would have to sign a confidentiality clause. We want to ensure the doctor is not hamstrung and is not whipped by bureaucracy as there could be occasions when that would be dangerous to patient care. We must remember that doctors have to lobby. If they are gagged or have to sign a confidentiality clause that could be so restrictive that at the end of the line the patient would lose out. An important issue for me is that they would always act in the interest of the patient and would not be restricted in doing that.

The issue raised in amendment No. 3, in the name of Senator Crown, was raised during the meetings. In theory, I support universal health care. I voted and lobbied for this but as a country I do not think we can afford it right now. I want to see the people in need getting the service, that the service would follow the need, and that the money would follow the patient in need. I would like the time and resources of the GP spent on the person who is unwell. By making the service universal we will clog up waiting rooms in a way that could come against the people who suddenly have a child with a very high temperature, spots or whatever, or meningitis with no possibility of getting an appointment quickly.

Speaking to amendment No. 6, it is critically important that medical records are limited to the medics and would be released only with the consent of the patient. We do not want information used in a way that is not intended other than for the well-being of the patient. I believe that should be restricted to the important GP-patient relationship.

Amendment No. 10, which we are also discussing-----