The IMO has claimed that GP surgeries will be 'overwhelmed' by patients if the Government introduces free GP visits for all without any increase in resources for general practice.

Dr Ray Walley, Chairman of the IMO GP Committee , said claims made by the Minister for Primary Care, Alex White TD, that there was no evidence that visit numbers would increase substantially when free GP visits were introduced were mistaken.

He said the number of visits to GPs is likely to increase by four million a year if free GP care is extended to all by 2016.

"The research also confirms that public patients (medical card / GP visit card holders) visit a GP on average almost eight times a year (7.72 average visits), whereas private patients visit their GP on average just over three times a year (3.3)."

Dr Walley claimed the Government's plans for universal health insurance and free GP services are in disarray, with even Government Departments failing to agree on the details of these initiatives.

Minister White, however, has insisted that here is no evidence that GP surgeries will be overwhelmed by large numbers of extra patients if free GP care is introduced.

He said there was likely to be a modest increase in visits.