The Health Service Executive has come up with a solution for parents who are finding it difficult to find a local GP to sign up their child for free visits.
If a family has made three unsuccessful attempts, they will be assigned a doctor, it was confirmed yesterday.
Only 73 per cent of all doctors nationwide (1,836) have signed up to the free GP care for under sixes scheme, leaving some families in black spot areas where take up is low facing long journeys to find a participating doctor.
West Cork, south Tipperary, Dublin South East, Louth and Kildare are all under served. Meanwhile parents in north/west Dublin, Leitrim, Galway, Laois and Offaly have the largest choice because of the number of doctors signing up to take part.
The card entitles children under the age of six to free GP visits and asthma care, as well as assessments at age two and five (age based preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing and prevention of disease).
The scheme will see GPs get an annual increased €125 capitation fee for each patient under six, regardless of how often they visit the surgery.
Have you secured a doctor for your child under the scheme? Let us know on Twitter #HerFamGPs
