News

As winter approaches, GP practices face increased patient demand. To support practices, the HSE, together with the IMO, has launched the Winter Measures for General Practice, running from 8 December 2025 to 15 February 2026.

These measures are designed to help practices manage seasonal pressures while also providing an opportunity to increase revenue through additional Respiratory & Acute Clinics during the busiest months.

This guidance has been prepared in collaboration with Sabrina Bennett (PracticeManagement.ie) to provide clear, practical information for practice teams.

What’s Required

• Conduct 10 additional 2-hour Respiratory/Acute Clinics over the winter period

• Aim for roughly one clinic per week

• Clinics must occur outside normal surgery hours

• Minimum of six GMS/DVC consultations per clinic

Approved Clinic Time Windows

Clinics may be scheduled during:

• 7am–9am, Monday–Friday

• 5pm–7pm, Monday–Friday

• 9am–1pm, Saturday or Sunday

If your practice usually finishes at 6pm, clinics can run 6pm–8pm on weekdays.

Weekly Requirements

Practices are asked to:

• Update patients weekly via website, reception notice, SMS, or social media

• Email the HSE every Monday with the clinic times for that week:
  [email protected]

We will shortly provide ready-to-use website wording for practices who host their site with us.

Payments

• €41.63 per GMS consultation

• €3,000 for single-handed practices

• €2,500 per GMS GP for group practices
  (Paid once all ten clinics are completed)

Extra Flexibility

Participating GPs can also claim the same STC rate for other in-person respiratory or acute consultations delivered during early-morning or evening windows, even when no scheduled clinic is running.

Claiming

• Submit claims via the PCRS portal

• Aim to submit within 3–5 days

• Patient signature required (digital signatures accepted)

Signing Up

Please return one acceptance form per practice to the HSE by 20 November 2025:
[email protected]

If you have any questions or need support, the Lanas Team is here to assist.