Vol. 525 No. 2
159 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the setting up of general practitioner co-operatives to provide primary health care cover with the aim of ensuring that communities achieve an easily accessible high quality out of hours family doctor service; and if he will provide funding to support such a development. [24514/00]
I am committed to ensuring that appropriate general practice provision is available in an out of hours context throughout the country. My Department has already, in co-operation with the SEHB – Caredoc – and the NEHB – NorthEast.DOC – launched major out of hours general practice co-operatives in both boards on a pilot basis. Building on the experience gained from the existing projects, it is my intention that co-operative initiatives will be funded and launched in other boards next year.
