More than two years ago the Government launched its primary care strategy. It was seen as having almost as much importance as the main health strategy, and it was certainly radical in its scope.
It called for a new model of general practice; one in which doctors in a locality would join together into new primary care teams. But it was not just about doctors. Teams would also include nurses, midwives and even social workers. And they would link in up with a wider network of other professionals like speech therapists, community pharmacists, dieticians, community welfare officers, dentists, chiropodists and psychologists. They would serve a defined geographical area and people within each district would be encouraged to join the local team. Many services would be provided on an extended-hours basis and out-of-hours cover for defined services would also be "greatly enhanced".
But, according to GP representatives, the plan has been virtually stillborn - hence, last week's confrontation with the Minister for Health at a press conference staged by Mr Martin reviewing the strategy's progress. Dr Niall Ó Cleirigh of the Irish College of General Practitioners says the plan is absolutely right "but there's been no follow through because the funding is not forthcoming." Prof Tom O'Dowd of TCD Department of General Practice is frustrated by the lack of progress. "It's a joke that three years since the launch of the strategy they're still talking about the first 10 pilot sites," he says.