A Waterford GP has slammed the health service, demanding the government resources primary care providers rather than demanding they spend their time filling out policy documents.

Dr David Janes of Fourmilewater Health Centre wrote an open letter to the Health Service Executive (HSE) after receiving an advisory from authorities about implementing a new adverse incident reporting system.

His letter was in reaction to a letter the HSE sent to all GPs in the South East, outlining a risk management policy on reporting serious incidents where patients come to harm, or have a near miss. 

Dr Janes says that protocol is laudable, but the reality for GPs on the ground is that observing a policy like this could take time away from the work they should be focusing on.

For example, he says: "It is routine now for patients to come out of hospital with the wrong medication", explaining primary healthcare providers must then unravel any mistakes that have been made in a patient's care.

The doctor argues his time is better spent fixing that mistake, rather than writing a report on fixing the mistake.

David Janes told Newstalk.com's Breakfast primary care health providers see 90% of cases in the health service.

"We don't need more policies or task forces right now, we need doctors, we need nurses, we need hospital beds, GPs, community beds, resources, staffing and proper management and people in government who commit to public healthcare.

Dr David Janes GP from Fourmilewater Health Centre told Newstalk.com's Breakfast he could spend half his day sending out forms instead of treating patients: