It has emerged that South Tipperary has witnessed the lowest level of uptake nationally in the scheme that provides free GP care for children under the age of 6.
Figures published by the HSE reveal that only around half of doctors around the country have signed up to the scheme.
In county Tipperary the HSE’s figures show that only 8% of doctors have signed these contracts.
The other counties where the fewest GPs have signed up to free GP care for the under 6s include Cork North and South, Kildare/West Wicklow, Limerick and Louth.
The areas where GPs have shown the most interest in the scheme include Donegal, Roscommon and Longford/Westmeath.
Many GPs are concerned that they will not have the resources to deal with the expected increased workload.
