Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

On the Sláintecare report, there is a question mark over visitation rates. The rates referred to in the report were based on data which arose from the Trinity College evaluation. That has been questioned because it was based on patient recall over a year as opposed to actual visitation rates. Healthy Ireland has done similar work and its visitation rates are much more aligned to actual visits rather than rates. This issue was raised at the rural practice conference, and an undertaking was given to look at it. Visitation rates are, on average, about 7.7 visits per annum for general practice, whereas the Sláintecare report referred to 40%, which is somewhat less. That indicates that there is a significant mismatch between actuality and what is going to happen. That is based on current practice.

On top of that, when GP cards for those aged under six years of age were introduced, we projected that the visitation rate would increase, and it has increased by 67.5%. That was not expected by the HSE. If the threshold for a visitation is lowered, visits will rise. It is proposed to include an extra 500,000 patients per annum over the next five years. That will cripple the capacity and the ability of general practice to develop it unless there are accurate data as to what the proposal will affect. We need to have clear data on what the actuality will be.

What is probably central to the contract is the need to provide chronic disease management in general practice where it is most appropriate to do so. That will bring about a significant increase in visitation rights. We need to be clear about what we are dealing with from the outset, rather than creating something only to find it cannot be implemented and waiting times are higher than ever before. The cost element has been taken away but people are not allowed to have the necessary time. We should work very closely to make sure that we are working along the same lines rather than working and growing apart.