Sir, – I welcome the announcement that the Government is going to introduce GP care free at the point of delivery by 2015 (Home News, November 16th).
This will reduce one of the most significant barriers to accessing care. James Reilly, Alex White and Fine Gael/Labour are to be commended for pursuing this especially in the present climate.
While it will be difficult, it is worth remembering that the UK brought in the NHS in the years following the second World War when there was even more austerity than now.
My main concern is that to date no negotiations with GPs have even been started.
I would urge the powers that be to start negotiations with GPs now and not delay further.
The existing two-tier system is unfair, inequitable and discriminatory and the sooner it is confined to history the better.
One of my personal heroes in health care is Aneurin Bevin: it would be really something if in years to come people could look to a similar figure in this small but great country. – Yours, etc,