The current trolley crisis in Ireland's overcrowded hospitals could spell the end of the Government's plans to offer free GP care to all children.
Parents with children under the age of six have been invited to avail of free GP care since July, 2015. The scheme was due to be rolled out to include all children under 12 by the end of 2017, eventually offering free GP care to all children in Ireland.
Now however, a winter flu outbreak coupled with the grim situation in Ireland's emergency departments, which saw 578 patients languishing on trolleys nationwide on Thursday, has placed a spotlight on the fact that GPs are struggling to treat the large numbers of children in need of free medical care, placing untold pressure on hospital wards.
Earlier this week, Co Monaghan GP Illona Duffy told RTÉ's
Today with Sean O'Rourke that the free GP care for under sixes has had a major impact on GP services. Dr Duffy said that the scheme was rolled out despite doctor's warnings that there was not enough GPs to deliver the care.
Speaking to the Irish Independent however, Health Minister Simon Harris said he remains committed to the free GP care plan as set out in the Programme for Government but would only expand the scheme to under-12s when he reached agreement with doctors on a new GP contract.
"We have to learn from the past and while I think the under-sixes scheme is very good and a benefit to lots of parents and families we need to make sure the GP system is supported to deal with any additional workload," Mr Harris said.
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