<h2 class="p" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
	One third of people say they have avoided visiting their GP in the last year because they could not afford the fee.</h2>
<div>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		The survey of 500 people found that 6pc admitted it was beyond their financial means to bring a sick child to the doctor.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		The survey by Call Management also showed that 56pc said the visit would have cost them &euro;50.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		It was commissioned by GP Now, a service which is rolling out nationwide, offering unlimited doctor visits in return for a membership fee of &euro;15 a month for an individual or &euro;30 for a family of two adults and three children.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		General manager of GP Now, Tristan Healy, estimated that the service allows families to save up to &euro;360 a year in GP visit costs.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		The survey findings come as the minister confirmed that the Government is to switch from its original aim to provide free GP care to people with long- term illnesses and extend it to children first.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		Under the proposals, adults in the family would continue to pay but their child would receive the GP visit free.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		People on the Long Term Illness scheme were expecting the free GP visit cards more than two years ago following a pre-election pledge.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		Meanwhile, hospital consultants yesterday reacted strongly to another proposal from the minister to publish the death and disease rates for patients treated by each specialist.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		Waiting lists for each consultant will also be published.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		It would mean that the results of each surgeon who carries out operations would be posted online.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		However, Donal Duffy, assistant secretary general of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), said the plan &quot;will not in its proposed form help patients to make informed decisions.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		&quot;Healthcare is increasingly delivered by multi disciplinary teams&quot;, he added.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		He said linking illness and death rates to one particular factor or individual involved in a patient&#39;s care might not be the most appropriate way to reassure patients of the safety of their hospital or hospital group.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		Consultants are likely to have the choice of opting out if this is introduced.</p>
	<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">
		<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-third-say-they-cant-afford-to-visit-gp-29466909.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-third-say-they-cant-afford-to-visit-gp-29466909.html</a></p>
</div>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
