Sir, – In your Health Supplement (April 15th) it was reported that “extending free GP care to under-6s will result in only a modest rise in the workload of the average GP” (77 consultations per doctor per year).
In addition to visits, the draft contract for the under-6s stipulates that GPs must undertake significant additional workload which currently is not covered by a medical card. Under the proposed contract GPs would be required to “periodically monitor and record the growth development of all children under the age of two, and the BMI of those aged between the ages of two and six”.
The recording of growth development is currently undertaken by public health nurses. By age two, four measurements will have been taken and recorded. Based on the last census, if GPs take over these assessments it will result in 850,000 additional visits over the first two years.
Only time will tell what the true figure for additional consultation will be as a result of this contract. If however GPs have to carry out these, non-evidence-based, assessments it will result in over 1.5 million additional visits in the first two years. Yours, etc,
Dr REGGIE SPELMAN,
Bridgetown,
Co Wexford