Sir, – Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is seemingly bemoaning the expense of the latest extension of free GP care and openly speculates that the sky has not fallen in as far as access to our GP services is concerned (“Stephen Donnelly: ‘Things are getting better, but we have a long way to go’”, Health, Interview, January 5th). From where I stand, more than four months after this scheme was introduced, not one adult patient of mine has yet been able to access care under this scheme, despite me exhorting many on a daily basis that they should apply. By all accounts the application process is cumbersome, bureaucratic and difficult to navigate.
Is anyone really surprised?
In addition I have a monthly battle with the HSE with free care being inappropriately withdrawn from patients, such as children whose parents have seemingly not supplied it with a PPS number, and others for no earthly explicable reason.
Here’s an idea, Minister: sort out your processes and implement what you promised GPs, patients and the taxpayer.
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I’ll happily let you know how the sky is looking here from the frontline at that juncture. – Yours, etc,
Dr SHANE CORR,
Carrickmacross,
Co Monaghan.
