David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The example the Minister gave of a GP in Waterford is very important, and he has listened to what she had to say, but he is the Minister and he can effect change. If I was in his shoes, I would establish a working group on the future of general practice and I would look at a new model of GP and primary care, including the option of directly hired GPs, if that is what we need to do.

We need a new GMS contract. The Minister is right that many GPs who are coming out of training all of a sudden find they are entrepreneurs and businesspeople and they need practical supports regarding that. There are issues relating to staffing subsidies, which are based on an archaic view of how practices work, when we know general practice has completely changed. The GMS contract needs to reflect a modern, primary care service. All the other supports the Minister mentioned also have to be put in place. It is all of that.

If we are to have any chance of expanding free GP care, and delivering on the promise that was made, all of this needs to be done. If it is not, a legacy of the Minister and the Government will be that of another party that promised to deliver reforms in healthcare to transition to a single-tier health service and universal GP access, but failed. They will only fail if they do not grapple with these issues. While the Minister is listening to GPs, I do not see any evidence of any concrete changes so far.

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