Sir, – I read with incredulity a recent ESRI report entitled The Impact of Free GP Care on the Utilisation of GP Services in Ireland: An Evaluation of Different Approaches. The linguistic density and mathematical contortions in its 51 pages unsuccessfully attempt to calculate how many GPs would be needed to provide free care to the entire Irish population. The ESRI could have saved itself the bother by looking at the NHS in Britain. This institution boasts one GP for every 1,500 citizens. Also, it employs 23,000 advanced nurse practitioners to deal with minor ailments and chronic disease management. According to a recent survey of 800 practices carried out by Pulse UK, the most widely read GP publication, the average wait for a routine appointment to see a GP in the NHS is 13 days.

The ESRI can conclude therefore, that to supply the same dismal service in Ireland would need 4,640 GPs, 1,400 more than we have now, and 1,500 specifically trained nurse specialists, of which we have none.

We produce about 150 new GPs every year, and roughly half of them leave. A thousand GPs have indicated their intention to retire in the next five years, and we do not train nurse specialists at all. Therefore, can I suggest the 12th of never for this project and urge the ESRI not to add to the profligacy of Government with idle speculation but rather assist it in maintaining a firmer grip on reality? – Yours, etc,

Dr ME McCONVILLE,

Ballyhaise,

Co Cavan.