Just two per cent of GPs have signed up to the free GP care for under-sixes scheme, according to a new survey.
The independent poll, commissioned by the National Association of General Practioners, was carried out between May 13 and 16 and surveyed 1,048 GPs.
It suggests that only 21 per cent of GPs intend to sign up for the scheme before the May 27 deadline, while only 23 per cent plan on signing over the next three months.
The figures fall far short of the minimum threshold of 40 per cent set by the Minister for Health.
It's also emerged in certain areas around the country that all GPs are planning to actively boycott the scheme, which is due to be rolled out from July.
CEO of the NAGP Chris Goodey says as well as a lack of information available to doctors, the free GP care scheme also poses a litany of other issues: