Vol. 442 No. 8
92 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health in view of recent submissions by representatives of the travelling community, the plans, if any, he has to provide a special five-year open medical card, serviced by all members of the GMS, to travellers and their families.
As outlined in the Health Strategy, my Department and the Task Force on the Travelling Community will undertake a joint study in 1994 on travellers' health with particular emphasis on access to appropriate health services. One of the issues which will be examined in this study is the arrangements necessary to ensure greater continuity of primary care health services. A key element of this will be continuing access by travellers to general practitioners services under the general medical services scheme. A joint steering group, comprising representatives of my Department and the task force has been established to design and oversee this study.
As indicated in the strategy, the task force will on the basis of the joint study, make recommendations regarding a health policy for travellers following which I will publish a policy on travellers' health which will take account of these recommendations.
