Around 25 contracts for free GP care for under sixes, signed by family doctors, have been rejected by the HSE because letters with conditions were attached, according to Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.

He said that the HSE and the Department of Health had sought legal advice on the contracts sent in with protest letters.

Mr Varadkar said that the letters said the doctors could not assure patient safety.

He said it was not acceptable to attach such conditions to a contract for free GP care.

The National Association of GPs has put the number of contracts sent in with protest letters by its members much higher at about 200.

Minister Varadkar was speaking at the first national sepsis summit at Dublin Castle, to raise awareness about the need for health staff to recognise and treat sepsis at an early stage.

Under the HSE's 2015 national service plan, it has committed to the full implementation of the national clinical guideline on sepsis, across all acute hospitals.