Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 6

Written Answers. - General Medical Service.

Michael Creed

Question:

72 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health if he intends reviewing the criteria governing access by general practitioners to the general medical service; and the correspondence or submissions, if any, he has received from the National Association of Independent General Practitioners regarding this matter. [18091/95]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

74 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if there is a sufficient number of general practitioners operating the medical card scheme; the plans, if any, he has to provide for new methods of entry for young general practitioners into the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/95]

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

85 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Health the changes, if any, he is considering introducing in the entry system to the general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18175/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 74 and 85 together.

The responsibility for ensuring the adequacy of general practitioner services for medical card patients rests with the chief executive officer of the relevant health board. Since 1985 there has been an increase in the number of GMS doctors from 1,486 in December 1985 to 1,657 at the end of June, 1995. In that period the average number of patients on each doctors panel decreased from 877 to 776, an average reduction of over 100 patients per panel. I have no evidence that there is an insufficient number of general practitioners in the GMS.

Following an agreement between the Department and the Irish Medical Organisation, a group consisting of officials from the Department and the health boards together with representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish College of General Practitioners, has been established to review the operation of the current arrangements for GMS entry.

Correspondence has recently been received from the National Association of Independent General Practitioners regarding this issue which is under consideration in the Department.