Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

No, but one is being developed, which will show the priorities and will put a timeframe on when they should be implemented. We can talk forever but there need to be timelines for implementation. Even if the Department gave the appropriate resources to fund a fully-functioning contract and brought it in tomorrow, it could not be implemented because, as a result of the cuts of the past number of years, we do not now have the necessary capacity in general practice. It needs to be regenerated but the only way to do that is to produce a contract that is functioning, that attracts people and retains GPs who are currently choosing to go abroad for more attractive conditions. This will happen even more in the next number of years because the NHS will be looking for thousands and thousands of GPs and offering much more attractive conditions, right on our doorstep. It is urgent that we get this done. The roadmap should be brought forward to address that. We need timelines and matching resources.