Doctors are calling for significant investment in the health service in the forthcoming Budget.

Launching its pre-Budget submission, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) pointed out that the Government's own Health Service Capacity Review highlights the need for more investment.

"If you make healthcare cuts and tell the population it won't affect patient care, you're lying. Budget 2019 is an opportunity to invest in and future-proof our health service. This is an opportunity which must be taken," commented IMO president, Dr Peadar Gilligan.

The pre-Budget submission focuses on three key areas of investment:

-General practice and care in the community, including the reversal of FEMPI cuts and more supports for chronic illness management

-Addressing unsafe levels of occupancy in acute hospitals. This would involve the immediate provision of 1,260 beds accompanied by appropriate staffing and resources

-Capital investment. The IMO wants a detailed capital investment plan based on the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review. This should include a major increase in acute beds, as well as investment in 10,500 long-term residential beds.

The pre-Budget submission has also called for investment in other key areas, such as in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Meanwhile the IMO also insisted that major investment is needed in the recruitment and retention of doctors.

"This means a reversal of the discrimination suffered by consultants since 2012, honouring the contracts which doctors have entered into, and the negotiation with the IMO on new contracts for doctors. These contracts must feature competitive terms and conditions to protect the health service from losing qualified, capable staff to other English-speaking countries," Dr Gilligan added.

Budget 2019 will be announced on October 9.