Sir, – Brian Devitt (Letters, April 2nd) suggests that the average GP earns €250,000 per annum. This is not true. I do not know whether it is the average GMS payment to doctors or not but it is certainly not earnings, which can be defined as wages or profit. Mr Devitt confuses turnover with earnings. A doctor’s expenses include basic costs like rent/mortgage of premises, heat, lighting, general and water rates, insurance – of personnel and premises, computer systems, medical indemnity, as well as the employment of receptionist(s) and nurse(s). The heaviest expenses, particularly for those in single-handed practices, are locum ones.
Every day I go to work I take the complaints and cares of others on my shoulders. I carry oxygen and a defibrillator, morphine and adrenalin. I am prepared to deal with minor headaches and major brain tumours, to try to differentiate between indigestion and heart attacks, to listen to hypochondriacs and the terminally ill, to vaccinate babies and suture lacerations. I drive alone to strange houses in the dark and try to help people in distress. My default setting is being at the service of the public 24/7/365 .
I would like to know exactly how much Mr Devitt thinks I should earn for this work, and these working conditions. Yours, etc,
DR VALERIE COLLINS,
Market Street,
Killorglin,
Co Kerry