Help, a&e in Ireland?

No, you keep missing the point. We know about the obligations. But you don't seem to grasp that they don't have to do that if they have no capacity.
They have obligations to medical card holders too, those also can't be fulfilled where there is no capacity to do so.

Your anecdata about a cousin seeing your GP is irrelevant.

You keep missing the point that GPs have obligations under the reciprocal agreement. I’m well aware that GP surgeries are oversubscribed. My mum’s surgery is very busy and hasn’t been taking on new patients for some time. If she needs an appointment she generally has to wait a week - however if it is urgent then she is offered a same day appointment. I’m sure the same leeway is there for visitors to see a GP if needed, even in busy surgeries.

i have already posted links that state how visitors access necessary health care - if you Google then you will find the same information on HSE websites and Citizens Information, neither of these sites state that there is a possibility of being refused treatment because a GP is oversubscribed. All the information I have found clearly states the ‘entitlement’ to treatment.

I, and others on this thread, have also had personal experience of visitors from other EU countries and also the UK needing and receiving healthcare (free of charge) while visiting Ireland -as per the EHIC and reciprocal agreement arrangements.

A while back a couple ahead of me in the queue at reception in my GPs who were on holiday from Germany were told if they waited when a GP had time they would see them. My GP practice isn't taking on new patients at the minute so it does happen that they make exceptions.

This is just scaremongering nonsense.

I live in Dublin and moved GP recently with no issues. Yes, some are oversubscribed for domestic patients but plenty are not. The idea that a person who falls ill in Dublin will not be able to find one GP in the entire city is absolutely laughable.

There are reciprocal arrangements in place, and GPs and hospitals will fulfil their obligations under those, just as the NHS will for an Irish patient.

This is correct (I'm Irish with English relatives and have had some experience of this).

Not only is it there in black and white, but several UK posters on this thread have availed of medical services here and have confirmed they didn't need to pay.

Similarly, when I had an accident in Australia all I needed to do was show my passport and my care was free, because of the contract in place between the two countries.

I have no idea why some posters are determined to argue with you. It's just muddying the waters for the OP.

And if they are fully booked up with their current medical card holders they are fully booked up and will suggest another GP pratice which may also be fully booked

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-02-05/1087/#pq-answers-1087

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-02-05/1362/

https://www.thejournal.ie/investigates-gp-shortage-6647266-Mar2025/

https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2024/0206/1430691-gp-practice-ireland/

GP wise it'll depend where you are visiting, as well as the individual GP. There are some counties even those who live there find they can't register with a GP as there are no places.

A&E wise, again depending on where you are @Uktoireland make sure you know where the closest A&E is (and that it's a public hospital!) No one needs to pay the €100 upfront, thankfully it's not an entrance fee. You won't be refused treatment with or without an EHIC.

But as stated, oversubscribed GPs, which many are, are not obliged to give appointments to visitors.
If the OP went to Dublin, for example, she's not going to find a GP that will give an appt. Many people who live in Dublin can't register with a practice, as they're so full. There's a gp recruitment/retention crisis.

A paid walk in is likely their only option, same as it is for many people who live there, whether they're entitled to free care or not.

The reciprocal healthcare agreement exists to ensure that residents of the respect countries involved can get healthcare when visiting the other country.

So if the OP needs a GP appointment while visiting Ireland she can check which GPs nearby are contracted to the PCRS scheme, before contacting and requesting an appointment stating she is visiting from the UK.

GP surgeries are aware of their obligations under the reciprocal agreement.

I am pointing out that the OP needs to get an appointment to get free GP healthcare.
The same way she would need to get past the reception/booking system if she was away from her local UK GP.
And is better that she budgeted for the fee and any medicines and not need it than have an unexpected extra cost during her trip.

It is advice for people from the uk travelling to Ireland. It clearly states that. It is an NHS site. I’m not sure why you are so determined that I am wrong.

if you’d like to visit the UK and become unwell you will also be entitled to free healthcare under the reciprocal agreement.

That the irish medical card scheme.

Most GP will not give appointments to local medical card holders who have not been accepted to their list and there is a medical card waiting list for some GPs.

So if the OP calls for an appointment under the medical card service the pratice is unlikely to give an appointment. A "family GP" may give a "state funded" slot to an existing service user's guest or a private fee paid appointment but the OP could not rely on the GP accepting them for the one off medical card fee.

They don't have to when they're oversubscribed, which many are.

Most GPs will see visitors. It’s part of the PCRS contract.

Yes we have some 365 clinics and private clinics where you will have to pay that will take anyone.

That depends on the practice. Many are oversubscribed and definitely wouldn't see anyone not on their lists. In some areas locals can't access any gps near them as they're full.

Yes, visitors can get appointments if not registered with the practice. I have had overseas (EU) visitors who have needed to see a GP and my GP saw them and they didn’t have to pay, they had to show EHIC card.

It’s the same for UK citizens - although no longer in the EU there is a reciprocal agreement in place between the UK and Ireland. UK visitors don’t even need to have EHIC card, they just need to prove they are ordinarily resident in the UK.

Ireland
Each country's health system is different and might not include all the things you would expect to get free of charge from the NHS. This means you may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care.
It is important that you ensure that you are treated by a state healthcare provider as you will not be covered for private healthcare. You should be particularly careful if the healthcare arrangements have been made by a hotel or travel representative.
The UK and Irish authorities have an agreement where UK residents do not need their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access healthcare services if they are on a temporary stay in Ireland. It is enough to show proof that you are ordinarily resident in the UK, such as a driving licence, passport or similar documentation that shows your NHS number or its equivalent.
Non-EEA nationals are covered in Ireland.
Public health services in Ireland are provided in hospitals and communities across the country.

For information about health services in Ireland, your entitlements and how to access health or social services, contact the HSE infoline on tel:1850 24 1850 1850 24 1850 in Ireland or tel:+353 41 685 0300 +353 41 685 0300 from abroad, visit www.hse.ie, or email [email protected]
Find help in emergencies
If you find yourself in a serious life-threatening emergency, you should call 999 or 112. Use these numbers for fire, ambulance, police and the coastguard. Regardless of which number you call in Ireland, there will be no difference and the call will be handled in the same manner. The call is free of charge to the caller.
Health services and costs
Make sure you are treated by a state-funded healthcare provider. You should be particularly careful if healthcare arrangements are made by a hotel or travel representative. Any costs incurred for private healthcare are not refunded.

Use the HSE service finder to find GPs (including out-of-hours GPs), hospitals, dentists, pharmacies and other health services near you. If you have a smartphone, you can also download the free EHIC appproduced by the EU, which has information about how to contact health services in the country you are visiting.
Doctors
You can contact any GP who is contracted to the Primary Care Reimbursement Services (PCRS) scheme. More than 2,000 doctors, representing the majority of GPs in Ireland, are contracted to the scheme. Treatment is provided free of charge by PCRS doctors to those who are eligible under EU regulations.
You can get details of PCRS doctors in your area from the Local Health Office. If you are not sure whether the GP is a PCRS doctor, tell them that you are seeking treatment under EU regulations.
GPs operate specified hours for surgery visits and these vary from practice to practice. Telephone the GP surgery in your area for their opening hours. Out-of-hours cover is provided at other times – a telephone number for this service is usually provided on the GP's telephone answering service.
Seeing a specialist
Your GP will refer you to a specialist if they think this is necessary. Make sure to tell the GP that you want to be treated as a public patient. Many consultants in Ireland see patients both publicly and privately. If you see the consultant as a private patient, you will not be covered by EU regulations. Treatment by consultants is provided free of charge in the public system to those who are eligible.
Dentists
Emergency dental treatment is available from dentists contracted to the Local Health Office. If you need to see a dentist, contact the Local Health Office or health centre in your area to get details of contracted dentists or Local Health Office clinics.
In emergencies, check that the dentist you choose is contracted to the Local Health Office to provide services under the PCRS system. Make sure to tell them that you are seeking treatment under EU regulations.
Other services
Certain ear or eye services are available free of charge to those eligible under EU regulations. In line with the arrangements for Irish residents, you should contact the Local Health Office in your area in the first instance to access such services.
Prescriptions
Prescription medicines must be obtained from a GP contracted to the PCRS scheme, who will use a special prescription form to indicate to the pharmacist that the medicine is to be provided free of charge. A prescription charge must be paid for each item of medicine. The current charge is €2.50 per item up to a maximum of €25.00 per month per family.
Hospital treatment
In an emergency, you can go directly to the Accident and Emergency unit of any public hospital. There is no charge for those eligible under EU regulations.
For scheduled inpatient or outpatient treatment in the public system, you will need to be referred by a GP or specialist consultant contracted to the PCRS scheme. Remember to ask to be referred as a public patient.
Inpatient and outpatient treatment in the public system is provided free of charge to those who are eligible under EU regulations. Treatment or accommodation as a private or semi-private patient is not covered by these regulations.

@AnSolas apologies, the link I posted was to a specific section but it went wrong. The above is copied and pasted (if you want to see original click on link to nhs wales in my last post and search ‘travel health’)

The OP, or any ordinarily UK resident, does not need to do anything - GP surgeries and hospitals know what to do. The only thing it is wise to do is check that the GP is contracted to the PCRS scheme before going ahead with an appointment- the majority are but I doubt that the private walk-in clinics are - as i said they don’t treat medical card holders free so I should think they are not contracted.

So, in answer to your question- yes, there is a contract in place to cover this. Or at least a recipricol agreement. Seriously, GPs and hospitals know this stuff - it’s not news to them.

I think so @varden because they are paid by the customer not the state. The majority of people don't get medical care paid. It's been a while since I've done it but I used to travel with work a bit around the country and had to attend GPs in different cities twice, i just rang for an appointment. Also when my kid was sick a few years ago I brought him to the nearest GP because I didn't have my car and it was handier.

Could a person (anyone, Irish or UK) just walk into any GP surgery or even get an appointment if not on the practice list? Just wondered, maybe they can.

I'd say most people would go to the walk in GP clinics or do an online consult and pay for it, to be seen on the spot. There may be some GPs who are private patients only though, and it might be possible there I suppose.

How will the OP know that a random private business GP pratice will know where they need to send the paperwork to to get paid by a UK body?

The GP is a private business and has no contract(?) to provide care for UK persons and are well with in their rights not to accept any non-private service user. Most GPs wont take on new Irish service users who are funded by the Irish State so I am trying to understand how they process a UK walkin?

Or are you saying the NHS has entered into a contract with Irish Gps?
If so how?

Can you copy and paste the specific section which the OP can rely on when she is asked to pay for the GP visit?

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/

@AnSolas OP doesn’t need to make any suggestions about who to send the bill to - hospitals and GPs are well aware of the reciprocal agreement and how to get reimbursed.

I’m not just posting what I think is the case, I’m providing links to UK government and NHS sites that clearly state the facts.

UK citizens on holiday in Ireland are entitled to A&E care free of charge under the reciprocal scheme. This means they don’t have to pay the €100 A&E charge. UK citizens on holiday in Ireland also do not have to pay GP charges.

Disclaimer - there are private walk-in surgeries popping up all over that most likely will charge, they don’t see medical card holders free of charge so I presume they are not under the PRCS scheme.

I am not a UK resident so I don't have an NHS number or whatever it is you have.

The A&E system is awful here OP, avoid if you possibly can. It depends of course on the condition or hospital but if you are not acute you will be left waiting. I once was told I would have to wait 13 hours to see a Dr, before i was even referred for X rays or tests other than bloods. That was already having paid 65 euro to see my GP and being referred urgently. Many people didn't have chairs, some were in pain and it was horrendous. I left and paid a few 100s to see someone at a private clinic the next day, worth every penny. There are private clinics and out of hour GP centres that take private insurance or you pay upfront. Best to research the location of the one nearest and price for treatment. If you do need to go to A&E have snacks and warm layers, something to listen to or read and prepare for a very long stay.

There are a lot of exemptions for the a&e charge it’s not a black and white situation. Also a lot of people have gp visit cards so it’s free to go to your gp and if they refer you to a&e then it’s no charge. I earn 50k and have. GP visit cards so it’s not just for those on low wages. Others have medical cards etc. and those that have health insurance (like myself too) can claim the charge back through that.