Top Mayo earners in medical card scheme revealed by the HSE

THE top-earning Mayo GP practice in the medical card scheme made over €600,000 last year, according to figures released by the HSE.

Two local practices made more than €500,000 through the scheme in 2019, while seven doctors in the Mayo region received more than €400,000 in fees and allowances.

The figures also show that 15 other practices received in excess of €300,000 for treating patients with medical cards.

Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show Dr. Sean Moffatt's practice in Ballina made €636,045.70 last year.

Belmullet's Dr. Swanick and Dr Fergal Ruane earned €534,879.92 and €509,454.41 respectively, while Ballindine's Dr. Gary Curran, Knock's Dr. Diarmuid Murray, Glenamoy's Dr. Enda Loftus, Swinford's Dr. John Gibbons, Mulranny's Dr. Jerry Cowley, Crossmolina's Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald and Cong's Dr. Michael Regan received over €400,000.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has previously criticised the HSE for releasing the details of these payments to GP practices, saying the figures provided by the HSE imply that GPs are receiving much more income than is actually the case and does not reflect the true situation.

Top 15 highest payments to Mayo GPs were as follows:

Dr. Sean Moffatt, Ballina - €636,045.70

Dr. Keith Swanick, Belmullet - €534,879.92

Dr. Fergal Ruane, Belmullet - €509,454.41

Dr. Gary Curran, Ballindine - €450,891.85

Dr. Diarmuid Murray, Knock - €449,838.13

Dr. Enda Loftus, Glenamoy - €448,141.44

Dr. John Gibbons, Swinford - €444,913.83

Dr. Jerry P. Cowley, Mulranny - €415,417.65

Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, Crossmolina - €404,587.41

Dr. Michael Regan, Cong - €400,075.43

Dr. Joseph Gilvarry, Kilalla - €386,038.81

Dr. Richard Tobin, Castlebar - €383,115.38

Dr. William Brunker, Ballina - €370,680.62

Dr. Brigid O'Malley, Castlebar - €360,248.48

Dr. Kay Moran, Castlebar - €340,360.74

*The figures are gross and include practice support.