White Welcomes Registration Process for Free GP Care for Under 6s
I’m delighted to note that the registration process for free GP care for children under 6 is open from Monday 15 June. I understand that parents can register by logging onto www.gpvisitcard.ie.
In my previous role at the Department of Health, I was responsible for primary care and I was proud to oversee the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014, which provided the legislative basis for the provision of free GP care to all children under the age of six. I also brokered the agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) which set out the process for engagement for the delivery of these services. As a result, over 7,000 children under 6 in total in Dublin Rathdown will now have access to free GP care.
I would encourage parents whose children will benefit from the scheme to sign them up from Monday onwards, so they can begin availing of free GP visits from July 1st.
Making healthcare more affordable has long been an objective of the Labour Party in Government, and this first step is a firm statement of our intent to deliver universal GP services without fees, on a phased basis. This is a major step forward that will deliver huge savings for local families and will help promote health and well-being throughout our communities.
Additionally, I’m pleased to note that so far 1,279 GPs have signed up to provide free GP care for under 6s across the country. The IMO’s prediction that most of their members will sign up to provide free GP care to under-6s before the deadline is very positive news.
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