[ad_1]
The doctor who received a confidential copy of the new GP contract from then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also wrote to then-Health Minister Simon Harris seeking a meeting to discuss a new GP contract.
Maitiú Ó Tuathail was president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), which was a rival organization to the Irish Medical Organization (OMI) when he wrote to Harris in March 2019.
Dr. Ó Tuathail had led an NAGP delegation that met with four Fine Gael MPs in the LH2000 building at Leinster House on February 28 last year.
Following the meeting with the three TDs and a senator, the NAGP sought a meeting with Harris in March to reverse FEMPI’s cuts from the era of austerity in health services, provide emergency funding to GPs, and negotiate a new contract.
In the letter, Dr. Ó Tuathail stated: “The meeting was very positive and members agreed that the general practice really needed emergency funds, that FEMPI should be reversed and a new tailored contract was urgently needed.
“We are formally requesting a meeting with you to discuss these issues in detail,” he added.
Separately, four Fine Gael MPs, Martin Heydon, Kate O’Connell, Bernard Durkan and Senator Colm Burke, wrote to Mr. Harris around the same time urging him to include the NAGP in the negotiations on the new GP contract.
All four were members of the Oireachtas health committee.
The letter signed by the four said: “The framework agreed by the IMO in terms of the group’s collective bargaining position leaves a large number of general practitioners – members of NAGP – out of the room in the talks.
“NAGP wants to contribute to the evolution of GP care into the future and wants to work on a new contract. A contract compatible with the delivery of Sláintecare …
“We firmly believe as a collective that a mechanism must be found that includes the representative bodies of the GPs in order to shape an adequate contract.
“We urge you to engage with them, as requested.”
Government sources say Harris did not comply with the NAGP at the time regarding the contract or representation of the GP.
The lobbying record results show an active campaign by the NAGP to become part of the new contract negotiations that were reaching conclusive stages at the time.
Going back to the record, the NAGP said its goal was to gain recognition for the negotiation. His return indicates that the association intended to “enlist the support of Fine Gael members to allow the National Association of Family Physicians to enter into official negotiations regarding a new GP contract.”
Negotiations on the contract had been ongoing since the previous September between the Department of Health and IMO.
Varadkar is under pressure to approve a draft of the new agreement for general practitioners negotiated between the government and the IMO in April 2019 to Dr. Ó Tuathail, who was a friend of his.
Dr. Ó Tuathail said that the NAGP received a copy of the document from the then taoiseach in mid-April. “This was seen as a continuation of the government’s decision to consult with the NAGP and its GP members and keep them informed at all times,” said Dr. Ó Tuathail in a statement.
Harris, who is now Minister of Higher Education, told RTÉ Radio’s Today with Claire Byrne program on Monday that Varadkar had been passionate about dealing with GPs and wanted more doctors to support him.
The Tánaiste hadn’t undermined it, Harris said. Mr. Varadkar’s motivation had been to get the information to as many GPs as possible.
Mr. Harris said he agreed that the way Mr. Varadkar had shared the information “was not the best way to do it” and that perhaps the NAGP could have “come in” to be informed. He was satisfied that the deal had been completed at that stage.
[ad_2]