Private only GP database

LambshankRedemption

Hi All,

Bit of a weird one but here goes.

I dont have a GP. I spent most of a day on the phone a while back ringing every GP practice in about a 4 county radius asking were they taking on new patients and every single one said the same thing to me "Im sorry, we are not taking on new patients right now".

I am now looking to find a private-only GP. I have a conspiracy theory, aside from the fact that there just isnt enough doctors for everyone, but, according to Citizens Information:

GPs are usually part of the private healthcare system and so you will usually need to pay charges when you see one.

So all GPs are private(in that you have to pay to see them), but if you have a healthcard you get in for free and the reason they ae not accepting new patients is because they dont want new patients who will be getting free services. With a Private only GP, it'd be upfront, at the door, money is going to be exchanged.

I tried signing up for LAYA, well, I did sign up with LAYA, but they told me I still need a GP to watchover things. The doctor I spoke to admitted she didnt have a GP as she couldnt find one, but told me I do need to find one.

So, Any advice or tips from anyone?

I'm located in east Roscommon.

Thanks!

Geuze

All GPs are self-employed, or else employed by a practice.

The GP, or the practice, gets paid by the HSE to treat patients with medical cards.

So they get paid for both private patients and patients with medical cards.

Geuze

Given that maybe 40% of the population have either a medical card or a GP Visit card, you will struggle to find a GP in rural Ireland that does not have a GMS list.

Maybe in Foxrock there are GPs without a GMS list.

EchoIndia

You are correct that GPs are all private business people (though some are employed by a practice rather being partners). There is no "conspiracy" and many practices may not want the workload associated with additional patients, even if they are going to pay for the services. The money received would not in practice add capacity in the immediate term, I suppose, especially outside the major population centres, where it can be harder to attract new GPs.

The population is growing - but also ageing overall - and life expectancy is increasing, so there are more people living with long-term conditions and other issues associated with ageing. This accounts for much of the workload of general practice and, yes, the great majority of older people have a GP Visit Card or full medical card, so the State is obliged to ensure that they are registered with a GP (even if it is not with their first preference). However the State is not obliged to ensure that the fee-paying population (of whom I am one) are registered with a GP. I agree that this is not a satisfactory situation as, apart from anything else, it can result in people not going to a GP when they should, or attending a hospital ED instead.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124018628#Comment_124018628

there is a new practice in foxrock taking on patients, they all tendered for and got patients with medical cards. .