Vol. 516 No. 2
123 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to increase the interface between hospitals and general practice in order to involve general practitioners and hospital management in a more significant way. [7371/00]
This is a matter that is already being addressed at health board level where there is an increasing emphasis on developing better linkages between both general practitioners and other primary care providers and general practitioners and hospitals in the context of promoting a seamless and integrated healthcare system. While the precise degree of specific interfacing may vary between health boards there is a general recognition by all of the benefits that can flow from developing better linkages between general practitioners and hospitals.
In terms of specific initiatives: drugs and therapeutic committees are found in each health board area involving general practitioners with hospitals, there are increasing number, of shared care protocols being developed and in a number of locations general practitioners are being provided with facilities on hospital campuses to provide out of hours services.
I am satisfied that progress is being made in developing better interfacing and look forward to continued progress in this area over time.
