GPs are calling on the HSE to revisit its plans for a roll out of new Primary Care centres.

Eighteen facilities are due to be established across the country however, the National Association of General Practitioners has said we need to rethink the centres’ function.

The body says instead of being new GP practices in a community – they should be used to carry out routine testing so that patients can gain quicker access a higher level of care.

CEO of the NAGP Chris Goodey, has said the centres should be used in a more radical way than currently planned: “We’re saying, rather than calling Primary Care centre, call them Primary Care Resource centres, and have them support all the GPs in a community and all their patients.

“You can have timely diagnositics whereby a patient is referred by a GP to a Primary Care Resource Centre for example and would be able to get an ultrasound immediately rather than having to wait six or nine months for those results.”