Four in every five Galway doctors sign up for free care for under sixes

Four out of five Galway GPs have signed up to provide free care for children under six, indicating a healthy start for the scheme.

Galway has the sixth highest registration figures with 78% of its GPs signed up, along with Mayo which has the same percentage registered.

This is higher than the national average, with approximately 63% of GPs with state contracts signed up to the scheme nationally, out of 32 HSE local health offices.

The figure is over 90% in five areas, with the highest rate of registered GPs in Donegal. South Tipperary has the lowest figure, with just 12% of its GPs signed up.

Meanwhile 20,000 parents have signed their children up for the scheme out of the 276,000 children who are eligible, after registration opened to families on Monday.

From July 1, all children under the age of six will be eligible to avail of GP care free at the point of service.

“With 78% of doctors in Galway signing up to provide the service, this is a very good start”, says Galway-West TD Brian Walsh.

“Early identification of health issues at a younger age can reduce the impact of ill-health later in life, and as one in four children in Ireland are overweight or obese, this is especially relevant when it comes to detecting illnesses that may be coming down the road.”

The new contract will include the provision of periodic wellness checks for children, once at the age of two and once at the age of five, which are focused on wellbeing and disease prevention.

Children diagnosed with asthma will also be entitled to an annual review by their GP.

This represents the first phase in the government’s plan to provide free GP care for the entire population.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.