I have not met the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) recently. Officials of my Department and the HSE have had a number of meetings with the IMO in recent months. Issues addressed included EWTD, NCHD recruitment and retention and consultant issues. Further meetings are planned to progress these issues.
On 31st January 2014, my colleague Alex White, Minister of State for Primary Care met with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to brief them on Government policy concerning the introduction of a universal GP service without fees, and in particular on the first phase concerning children under 6 years of age. The meeting included a briefing on the key features of the draft contract and an update on the consultation process in relation to the content and scope of the contract which will run until 21st February 2014. The IMO undertook to consider the draft contract and to revert within the next three weeks.