Mr. Bernard Gloster:

I do not disagree. I do not think a uniform or homogenous type of model for Ireland works any more. That is the truth. We have always had, to the greatest value of our health service, GPs as independent practitioners. That model has, in the main, served us very well. We should not break the whole thing. In areas of huge disadvantage, like Summerhill in Dublin, where the GP care for all construct came from, despite challenges around Revenue rules and so on, we have managed to sustain that. That works for people who would never have had a chance of getting a doctor.

We have to think as creatively as we can about how we support the model and funding of general practice for rural isolation. I was down in Bantry in west Cork two weeks ago. If you were to do a home visit there, you would nearly want a day to go out and back. In fairness, in terms of the strategic review of general practice, the Minister is very attuned to not simply saying one size fits all. I think the ICGP, the INMO and others will all contribute to that, but I do not disagree with the Deputy.