Dr Ken Egan: The IMO also passed a motion on gun licences at the AGM
The HSE intends to replace the posts of GP unit doctors with new GP clinical directors in each of the expected 18 Integrated Service Areas (ISAs), it has emerged.
Newly-elected IMO President Dr Ronan Boland confirmed that the Executive has already made a detailed business case to the Department of Finance for approval to fund GP Clinical Directors to match the ISAs — the basic population-based units for healthcare management across primary and secondary care.
“The idea is that you would have a consultant clinical director, a mental health clinical director, and a GP clinical director in each region, and that the functions that the GP unit doctors currently have would be taken over by the GP clinical directors, operating as part of an ISA,” Dr Boland said at the IMO AGM.
He added that as soon as funding approval was received, the HSE would come back to the IMO to discuss the terms, conditions and shape that these posts will take before they are advertised.
Proposing a motion calling for the abolition of GP unit doctors, Limerick GP Dr Bryan Scanlon said the posts — created some 15 years ago — were being used by the HSE to undermine the role of the IMO.
Arising from his seat to some clamour, Mayo’s Dr Ken Egan — the only GP unit doctor in the auditorium — said if there was one bad apple in the bag, you don’t throw out the bag. “It is time for change, but what we should be discussing is what we will be replacing it with.
“The College is moving to have academic directors, but I personally think we need someone who can deal with management,” said Dr Egan, who added there were also ongoing hearings at the Labour Court involving GP unit doctors.
In light of this — and the plans of the HSE — the motion was referred to Council.
dara.gantly@imt.ie