DOCTOR BANNED.. FOR BEING TOO OLD; GP's fight to see medical card patients after 70th.Byline: By PAT FLANAGAN John Patrick "Pat" Flanagan (born 1891 in Preston, Lancashire) was an English footballer. An inside forward, Flanagan played youth football for Stourbridge before joining Norwich City in 1908, before moving to Fulham in 1909. THE Government has been accused of discrimination after banning a doctor from treating her patients. Despite state anti-ageism campaigns Dr Patricia Comer has been told she cannot see her 500 medical card clients after her 70th birthday. Some patients have been attending her practice at Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, since it was set up 41 years ago. Dr Comer, who turns 70 in August, said: "Almost all my GMS GMS Greater Mekong Subregion GMS Global Mobile (Communications) System GMS Guild Management System GMS General Medical Services GMS Global Management System (Sonicwall) GMS GroupWise Mobile Server [general medical service] patients are elderly and I have long relationships with them. "I have treated many of their children and grandchildren and I know their histories. "They are really put out about it." Several local TDs and councillors have written to Health Minister Mary Harney Mary Harney (Irish: Máire Ní Áirne; born 11 March, 1953) is an Irish politician and the leader of the Progressive Democrats.[1] demanding Dr Comer be allowed to keep her patients. Dr Comer took over the practice from her husband when he died more than 30 years ago. She added her children are now grown up and her work is her "life". Dr Comer said her private patients accounted for only about 20 per cent of her work. Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus, pictured right, has called on the Health Minister to lift the over-70s ban. She added: "This issue could and should have been dealt with by the Medical Practitioners Bill which is long-awaited but still unpublished. "I maintain that it should be possible for the medical council to provide a system of competence assurance which would enable competent doctors to continue to practice." The Green Party's John Gormley and Labour's Ruairi Quinn raised the issue in the Dail recently. Mr Gormley described the HSE HSE House HSE Health and Safety Executive HSE Helsinki School of Economics HSE Hamilton Southeastern (High School) HSE Health, Safety & Environment HSE Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russia) policy as "ageist". But the Tanaiste said contracts with GPs on treating medical card patients were agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation The Irish Medical Organisation is a trade union which represents Doctors in the Republic of Ireland. History the IMO was formed in January 1984 through the amalgamation of the Irish Medical Association and the Irish Medical Union. . She added a GP might hold the contract up to 70 and they "may, of course, continue to practice as private practitioners following retirement from the GMS scheme". An Age Action Ireland spokesman said: "If she is competent to treat her private patients it is ridiculous she should be forced to stop treating her public ones." Irish Mirror Comment: Page 6 news@irishmirror.ie CAPTION(S): CARING: Dr Patricia Comer |
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