Mayo GPs are fighting for the future survival of their service

GPs from throughout Mayo will be joining a mass protest outside Dáil Éireann on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) said evidence from around the world confirms that community based health systems, like the family doctor system, are the most efficient, safe and effective.

Yet the Irish government is insisting on doing the complete opposite.

The statement continued: “Years of successive cuts in government funding for general practice has created an inefficient unstructured health system which is now collapsing.

“Also promised extra investment in developing the GP service has not been delivered, so that it is healthy and sustainable for the future. Public representatives need to be held to account for this grave failure.

“The number of doctors who can no longer take on any more patients is a growing crisis. The medical card system can no longer cope, having been starved of resources.

“Not enough new doctors are being appointed by the State to serve the public and many are having to retire early, due to burnout. GPs are at, and many have passed, breaking point.

“The NAGP is asking for the public's understanding in this regard. The future survival of the GP service is vital, to enable it to serve those who use it. This issue affects whole communities around Ireland.”