asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors who have served five years who would be due to be admitted to the general medical service scheme in 1987; whether he has received legal advice as to these doctors' entitlements; the instructions, if any, he has issued to the health boards regarding them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - General Medical Service Scheme Admissions.
98.
In so far as the health boards are aware, the number of doctors referred to, who would have been due for admission to the GMS scheme in the period since 23 April to the end of 1987, is 48.
On 23 April 1987 my Department issued instructions to health agencies in relation to the Government's decision on the non-filling of vacancies. These included, inter alia, the following:
Position of Choice of Doctor Scheme: No vacancies may be filled without the express approval of the Minister for Health with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
Essentially the decision to initiate a proposal to fill any vacancy in the choice of doctor scheme rests with health boards who will in making the decision to seek approval for such a course of action have regard to whether the filling of the vacancy is essential and their capacity to meet the cost of filling from within their allocation.