Vol. 420 No. 3
121 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the report in the Irish Medical Journal to the effect that GP's casualty referrals are the highest in Europe, and if he will outline the action he proposes to take.
I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy and I am having the issues raised in the findings of the report examined by my Department. It is one of my priorities as Minister for Health to strengthen the role of the general practitioner and to improve the interface between the general practitioner and the hospital services so that patients receive treatment at the level most appropriate to their condition. As the Deputy may be aware, my Department and the health boards are currently involved with representatives of general practitioners in a major review of the General Medical Services Scheme which will include an examination of ways of improving co-ordination between general practitioner and acute hospital services.
