Why I will not be signing the under 6 contract in its current format
For those of you who do not have the time to read through this 40 page document I will summarize my main reasons for not signing this contract in its present form.
1. I find this contract morally and ethically wrong. I see medical cards being removed on a weekly basis from the elderly, terminally ill and those with life long medical conditions who can ill afford to pay for their medical care. Instead cards will be given to the children of parents who don't need the financial help. There is no justice or logic in that. In fact
its robbing the poor to pay the rich.
2. The draft contract contains a "gagging " clause that prevents me speaking ill of the HSE. Should I sign this contract it would mean that I am no longer able to act as an advocate for my patients. Who will fight for patients for my patients if I am not allowed to ?
3. There is an enormous amount of form filling and box ticking required in the draft contract. At the moment I am already struggling to provide a same day service to my patients. I work through my lunch hour to keep on top of the paper work and very seldom work less than a ten hour day. This added bureautic burden can just not be accommodated without something giving. The most likely scenario is that I just won't be able to see as many patients in a day and we will become like the UK where patients have to wait up to 3 weeks for a GP appointment.
4. Patient confidentiality will be a thing of the past as the HSE will have the right to read your notes and take away a copy with them if they wish.
5. After hours consults will not be paid for unless its a matter of life and death. Under those criteria a child suffering with an earache at 3 am will not be covered.
I am disgusted at the tone and attitude of this contract. It lands the GP with all the financial, legal and administrative responsibilities without even having had a word of discussion prior to bringing it out. It protects those who don't need protecting and takes funding from the vulnerable in our society.
I cannot with a clear conscience sign this contract as it currently stands.
1. I find this contract morally and ethically wrong. I see medical cards being removed on a weekly basis from the elderly, terminally ill and those with life long medical conditions who can ill afford to pay for their medical care. Instead cards will be given to the children of parents who don't need the financial help. There is no justice or logic in that. In fact
its robbing the poor to pay the rich.
2. The draft contract contains a "gagging " clause that prevents me speaking ill of the HSE. Should I sign this contract it would mean that I am no longer able to act as an advocate for my patients. Who will fight for patients for my patients if I am not allowed to ?
3. There is an enormous amount of form filling and box ticking required in the draft contract. At the moment I am already struggling to provide a same day service to my patients. I work through my lunch hour to keep on top of the paper work and very seldom work less than a ten hour day. This added bureautic burden can just not be accommodated without something giving. The most likely scenario is that I just won't be able to see as many patients in a day and we will become like the UK where patients have to wait up to 3 weeks for a GP appointment.
4. Patient confidentiality will be a thing of the past as the HSE will have the right to read your notes and take away a copy with them if they wish.
5. After hours consults will not be paid for unless its a matter of life and death. Under those criteria a child suffering with an earache at 3 am will not be covered.
I am disgusted at the tone and attitude of this contract. It lands the GP with all the financial, legal and administrative responsibilities without even having had a word of discussion prior to bringing it out. It protects those who don't need protecting and takes funding from the vulnerable in our society.
I cannot with a clear conscience sign this contract as it currently stands.
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