James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Do the capital and service costs involved in the first few years of the independent contract model act as a barrier to entry? Are GPs not going into practice or do people choose not to become GPs because they simply cannot access capital supports or do not make a profit or make a loss in the first years? How can this be addressed in context of the current independent contract model? The increase in the availability of diagnostic resources sought by GPs sounds quite reasonable. Is it purely an issue for the Department of Health in supporting GPs to be able to access these or are there intra-professional issues? Are there other professionals who would prefer GPs not to have access to diagnostics? Would this involve stepping on other people's toes? I would like to get a handle on where the blockages are located.