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The Impact of Free GP Care on GP Utilisation in Ireland

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  • Paul K Gorecki

    (Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin)

Abstract

The successful implementation of the ongoing roll-out of free GP care for all private patients in Ireland, begun in 2015, requires an estimate of its impact on GP utilisation. However, estimates of this impact vary widely. For example, a recent study based on administrative records of six GP practices, predicts an extra 4.4 million GP visits. This paper argues that little reliance should be placed on this estimate due to methodological and sample selection issues, as well as the use of demonstrably inappropriate assumptions. Instead, more reliance should be placed on estimates derived from retrospective self-reporting surveys (e.g. Growing Up in Ireland, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) which suggest that extending free GP care to all private patients is likely to result in an increase of around 2.5 million GP visits. The increase in demand for GP services occasioned by free GP care feeds into the wider debate about the enhanced role of primary care in Ireland and the corresponding increase in funding.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul K Gorecki, 2018. "The Impact of Free GP Care on GP Utilisation in Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 49(2), pages 201-215.
    • Handle: RePEc:eso:journl:v:49:y:2018:i:2:p:201-215
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yuanyuan Ma & Anne Nolan, 2017. "Public Healthcare Entitlements and Healthcare Utilisation among the Older Population in Ireland," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(11), pages 1412-1428, November.
    2. Wren, Maev-Ann & Connolly, Sheelagh & Cunningham, Nathan, 2015. "An Examination of the Potential Costs of Universal Health Insurance in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS45, June.
    3. Nolan, Anne & Nolan, Brian, 2007. "The Utilisation of GP Services," Book Chapters, in: Nolan, Brian (ed.),The Provision and Use of Health Services, Health Inequalities and Health and Social Gain, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    4. Wren, Maev-Ann & Keegan, Conor & Walsh, Brendan & Bergin, Adele & Eighan, James & Brick, Aoife & Connolly, Sheelah & Watson, Dorothy & Banks, Joanne, 2017. "Projections of demand for healthcare in Ireland, 2015-2030: First report from the Hippocrates Model," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS67, June.
    5. Gorecki, Paul, 2016. "The Impact of Free GP Care on the Utilisation of GP Services in Ireland: An Evaluation of Different Approaches," Papers WP534, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    6. Hudson, Eibhlin & Nolan, Anne, 2015. "Public healthcare eligibility and the utilisation of GP services by older people in Ireland," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 6(C), pages 24-43.
    7. Watson, Dorothy & Maître, Bertrand & Russell, Helen, 2015. "Transitions into and out of Household Joblessness, 2004 to 2014: An Analysis of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS)," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT296, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ann, Kirby & Murphy, Aileen, 2022. "Would universal general practitioner care impact Irish adolescents’ utilisation?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(7), pages 652-660.

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    GPs; healthcare; Ireland;
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