GPs consider boycott of new drugs courts

General practitioners who dispense methadone to heroin addicts are threatening not to co-operate with the new drugs courts, because of their pay and working conditions.

The drugs courts, which would offer rehabilitation instead of prison to drug addicts who are convicted of criminal offences, are scheduled to begin operation on January 9th.

Some 89 per cent of heroin addicts on methadone maintenance programmes in the Eastern Regional Health Authority region are treated by GPs.

According to Dr Cathal O'Sullivan, spokesman for GPs Specialising in Substance Abuse (GPSSA), these GPs are working "with no contracts, minimum legal entitlements in relation to holiday and sick leave, no study leave, no contribution to medical indemnity and no provision for pensions".

The majority, although working virtually full time in drug-treatment clinics, are understood to be employed on a sessional basis, so they are paid for each session worked rather than being employed on a contract or permanent basis.

The GPs do not intend withdrawing treatment from those already on methadone maintenance plans.

However, most offenders sent for treatment by the drugs courts would expect to be treated by a GP.

The Irish Medical Organisation is due to begin negotiations with the Eastern Regional Health Authority on the issues in the new year.

The GPs are also concerned that although they have some input into day-to-day management of clinics, they have "little or no access to senior management in relation to planning and policy making," said Dr O'Sullivan.

Many of these GPs, he added, "have devoted considerable time and energy to training and developing their expertise in this complex field.

"The only way we now feel we can gain senior management's attention is to make a move like boycotting the drugs courts," Dr O'Sullivan said.