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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Services.

John Bruton

Question:

67 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he will pilot four different methods of primary care services to explore the way in which to move towards a 24-hour seven-day primary care service; the location of these pilot schemes; the way in which they will be evaluated; the way in which social partners will be consulted on the evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the Government commitment on this matter in paragraph 3.10.19 of Framework III of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. [8694/00]

The Government is committed to developing the health services as is evident from the increasing levels of funding being provided. The provision in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness on developing 24 hour seven day primary health care models is a further indication of that commitment and also reflects the value attached to partnership in achieving progress in this area.

Consistent with the proper implementation of such a significant project, my Department will approach the implementation in consultation and conjunction with the health boards and ERHA with a view to establishing the precise models to be utilised and their individual locations.

I should add, however, that I was already mindful of the need to develop a 24 hour primary healthcare service which would meet the requirements of the public for appropriate primary care and reduce demand on A&E hospital services. In that regard, my Department is supporting a number of initiatives aimed at providing an out-of-hours general practice service, most notably DUBDOC in the Dublin area and CAREDOC in the Carlow-Kilkenny area. Later this year, a region wide out of hours general practice service will commence in the North Eastern Health Board area. Those initiatives are likely to provide the base for the extension of the general practice arrangements into a wider and more inclusive primary care service as envisaged in the programme.

All pilots projects are subject to proper monitoring and evaluation in order to ascertain their efficiency and effectiveness and the precise nature of the pilot project frequently indicates the best monitoring and evaluation format to be adopted for that particular pilot model. When I have concluded my consultations with the health boards on the 24 hour primary care pilots to be established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness I will determine the models to be used and establish, at that time, how best the social partners can be involved in their monitoring and evaluation.

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