Politicians and policy makers continue to overlook the critical role played by GPs in the Irish health service, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has insisted.

It has just launched a major new campaign aimed at seeking increased resources for GPs.

"Every year there are over 22 million clinical consultations between GPs and their patients in Ireland making general practice the most frequently consulted part of the Irish health services. Because it is so accessible, many policy makers and politicians overlook the critical role played by it," explained Dr Ray Walley, chairman of the IMO's GP Committee.

He insisted that successive governments have ‘heaped extra burdens on general practice, while withdrawing resources'.

The number of patients with medical cards, including GP-visit cards, has increased by 38% over the last five years, yet spending by the Government in this area has fallen by 7% during the same period.

The IMO emphasised that this is simply unsustainable.

"Successive governments have withdrawn resources from general practice with the result that the service is on its knees. But this is a positive campaign. We are focussing on looking for a greater proportion of current resources so we can do more for our patients," Dr Walley insisted.

He warned that the Government's plan to extend free GP care to the entire population by 2016 does not help this situation.

"Firstly we don't believe it will happen. But secondly, we are also concerned that it's a distraction from the urgent need to increase resources for general practice now to improve patient outcomes today. That should be the priority," he said.

GPs would like to see a five-fold increase in the portion of the health budget spent in this area. Currently, just 2% of the Irish health budget is spent on general practive, compared to 9% of the UK health budget.

The campaign is also calling for an action plan for the manpower needs required in this area. This is needed to address the growing shortage of GPs.

An agreed strategy for the development of general practice over the next 10 years is also needed, as is a commitment from the Government to ensure the preservation of a community-based same-say appointment service.

"With the proper resources, we could do an enormous amount to improve the delivery of health services in the community and we want to help. We want to persuade the Government of the potential that exists within general practice and the ability within the GP profession to help transform the delivery of services to patients within their communities," Dr Walley said.

The campaign will include advertising, meetings with politicians and meetings with the public.

Dr Walley added that general practice is ‘the most accessible, effective and trusted part of the health service'.

"It can do much more to help patients in the community and to alleviate pressures and costs in other parts of the health service. We do an enormous amount already, but we want help to enable us to do even more."