New GP deal sees cardiac and diabetes spot checks

GPs are to carry out spot checks on patients to detect heart problems and diabetes, as part of the new €210 million GP contract.

They will also draw blood from thousands of patients suffering haemochromatosis - iron overload - who will no longer have to attend hospitals for the service.

The new chronic disease management programme will benefit 431,000 patients out of the two million people who qualify for free GP care.

The ...