October 2002

We are delighted to introduce you to the first journal produced on behalf of the Association of General Practitioners. Most of the articles in this journal are written by GPs who are in fulltime medical practice and relate to topics of specialist interest to each writer.

An increasing number of GPs are availing of easy access to international travel and the widespread information available through the Internet to broaden their knowledge and skills. This includes the knowledge of medicines and practices not previously used in Ireland, but which are standard practice in other countries both within and beyond the borders of the EU. They are using this knowledge for the benefit of their patients where standard practice has failed or has caused unacceptable side-effects and complications.

An increasing number of patients are aware of such practices and are coming in search of practitioners with such skills and information. It is surely more acceptable to find such skills and knowledge in the hands of a trained medical practitioner than in the hands of someone with limited or no medical training.

The Medicines Board do not agree with this principle. They wish to restrict the availability of medicines not formally presented to them for their approval and to prosecute practitioners who use them for the benefit of their patients. There are many medicines available in other EU countries that are not available here because of the powers of the Medicines Board. The AGP would far prefer to be regulated by an EU body with a far broader view of the medical practice than by the extremely restricted view of the Medicines Board. As it is widely accepted now that one does not have to be a practising member of any particular Church to earn the right to Heaven, neither does good medical practice have to be restricted to the teachings of Medical Schools in Dublin, Cork or Galway.

The greatest crisis in General Practice in the years ahead will be manpower. As natural retirement through age or ill health is added to through early retirement resulting from burn-out or frustration with increased bureaucracy it is essential that younger doctors are encouraged to come in to and stay in General Practice.

Unfortunately, the Over-70s scheme has proven extremely discouraging for some of our younger colleagues. If they have not participated in and completed a formal GP training scheme their application for a limited GMS contract to look after existing patients over the age of 70 has been rejected. With the prospects of further select groups of patients being offered GMS cards regardless of income these doctors will be driven out of General Practice. This must not be allowed to happen.

These are some of the problems that will be discussed at the AGM of the AGP in Crosshaven in October. Whether you agree or disagree, all GP colleagues are welcome to come along and air their views.

DR MICHAEL FAY

October 2002