A new campaign is to be launched which aims to raise awareness of the negative impact that FEMPI cuts have had on GPs.

According to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which represents doctors nationwide, FEMPI (financial emergency measures in the public interest) cuts to general practice have had a seriously detrimental impact on GPs and their patients.

It is to launch a #ReverseFEMPI campaign to raise awareness of this issue among politicians and patients. The cuts introduced under FEMPI have reduced payments to GPs by 38% since 2008 'and have directly led to an unstable financial model which is not attractive to existing or younger GPs', the IMO said.

"GPs, like other members of society, took on these cuts during the financial crisis and did their utmost to continue to deliver services to patients. However, 10 years later the traditional GP model is no longer financially sustainable as a direct result of the cuts imposed and patient services are not capable of being maintained, let alone expanded," explained Dr Padraig McGarry, chairperson of the IMO GP Committee.

He noted that over the next few years, almost 700 GPs are due to retire and it is going to be difficult to replace them with younger GPs because general practice ‘is simply not attractive as a medical career'.

"GPs around the country are struggling to maintain services, many lists are closed to new patients and younger GPs are choosing to leave rather than deal with a very uncertain future. This is all happening at a time when our elderly population is increasing, the incidence of chronic disease is rising and patient needs are becoming increasingly complex," Dr McGarry said.

The IMO is calling on the Government to reverse FEMPI in order to stabilise existing GP services and to resource new services in general practice, such as chronic disease management and procedures that might otherwise be done in the hospital setting.

Dr McGarry insisted that GPs have proven themselves to be value for money to the State, and they want to do more, however they cannot take on new work in the current environment.

"We must also face up to the reality that it is not simply a matter of transferring work to an already overburdened service. We not only have to acknowledge that general practice needs funding if the service is to be maintained and developed, but actually commit the necessary resources," he added.