Sir, – Your editorial quotes a survey of a random sample of citizens stating it found that “79 per cent of Irish people visited a GP in the previous 12 months, but this rose to nearly 90 per cent for holders of full medical card and GP visit cards. They also visited far more frequently” (“The Irish Times view on the survey of national health: a good result but work to do”, December 5th).
You go on to assert: “This differential points to a significant number of people who are choosing not to visit their GP, and the most obvious explanation is the cost of a visit which can range from €45 to €65 or more”.
You do not unfortunately explore why exactly they chose not to visit their GP.
Could it be they were simply not sick during that 12-month period?
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Grandmother does not need to be taught how to suck eggs and it would reasonably follow that nor should the Editor of The Irish Times need a lesson in staggering across the board inflation or the free market economic versus capitalist model of private GP care in Ireland.
It is worth noting that my own practice has not increased a single price since 2019 – and that is widely reflected across our professional group, despite the aforementioned inflation and the impact of a global pandemic on small businesses such as ours.
While it is regrettable that approaching 2025 we do not have a timeline for universal free GP care, it is also regrettable you missed a vital public message in this editorial.
You may not always need us but we are always there. – Yours, etc,
Dr HUGH Ó FAOLÁIN,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
