Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 5

Written Answers - General Medical Services Scheme.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

84 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide full details on procedures for GP entry to the GMS scheme; the arrangements, if any, entered into with the IMO in relation to this; the number of GP vacancies in the GMS which were filled in each health board area in each of the years from 1995 to 1997; if health boards are empowered to circumvent or amend these procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6746/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Entry by general practitioners to the general medical services scheme is by way of open competition and competitive interview for new posts, vacancies and assistant-with-a-view to partnerships posts. These competitions for posts are publicly advertised by the relevant health boards. The procedures governing entry are the subject of an agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) which specifically addresses the criteria for filling vacancies and creating new posts; the consultation process in respect of new posts created and vacancies suppressed, recruitment of partners and assistants; and interviewing of applicants.

In arriving at a decision on the filling of a vacancy or the creation of a new post, health boards are required to take the following into account: the provision of a proper level of access to general practitioner services for patients; that patients have a reasonable degree of choice in selecting a practitioner; and that due regard is given, on the basis of agreed guidelines, to the question of the viability of practices in the area in question. The agreed procedures also provide for the composition of the interview board together with guidelines on a marking system to be used in assessing candidates at interview. Health boards are not in a position to amend or circumvent these nationally agreed entry procedures.

The following table sets out the information on the number of general practitioner vacancies in the GMS which were filled in each health board are in the period 1995-7.

Health Board	Number of vacancies filled in
1995	1996	1997
Eastern	0	4	23
Midland	3	1	4
Mid-Western	1	3	2
North-Eastern	5	9	4
North-Western	1	9	2
South-Eastern	3	3	5
Southern	7	7	4
Western	4	5	3
Total	24	41	47

The present arrangements governing entry to the GMS are designed to ensure that successful applicants are able to provide the high and professional level of service required. In the context of the recent agreement with the IMO, it has agreed to establish a working group representative of my Department, health boards and the IMO to examine all aspects of entry to the GMS with a view to issuing recommendations by autumn 1998.