Madam, – In the article “It’s the morning after, and GPs are not happy” (HEALTHplus, January 18th) reference was made to GPs’ renegotiated contracts with the Government. “And in a year when their renegotiated contracts with Government are likely to reflect the country’s poorer public purse, is it any wonder their representative body is defensive about erosion of territory?”
I would like to clarify there were no negotiations with the GPs representative body; the changes were unilaterally imposed by the Minister for Health & Children under the Financial Emergency Measures in Public Interest Act 2009.
You should also note that it is the Irish Medical Organisation which represents GPs at contract negotiations. The article refers to the Irish College of General Practitioners which is a separate body which concentrates on education, training and standards in General Practice. – Yours, etc,