Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Written Answers - General Medical Services Scheme.

John Cregan

Question:

182 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the right of a general practitioner to charge a client who has a medical card for surgery visits at night as the general practitioner has designated hours for seeing medical card holders free; if such practice is in order; if he will warn the Irish Medical Organisation or other representative bodies of general practitioners that this practice is not in order; and the nature of disciplinary action which can be taken if specific details are presented to him. [9250/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

General practitioners who hold GMS contracts may not charge medical card patients of any age category for domiciliary visits, whether they occur during the day or outside normal hours. This contract provides that the medical practitioner shall be routinely available for consultation by eligible persons at his approved surgery or surgeries and for domiciliary visiting for a total of 40 hours each week on five days or more in the week and that the medical practitioner shall also make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with him or his locum/deputy outside normal hours for urgent cases.

The contract further states that "the medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever other than the normal capitation" or other negotiated rates "for services provided by him under this contract, or for travelling or for other expenses incurred by him or for the use of any premises, equipment or instruments in making the services available. The medical practitioner shall instruct any deputy providing services on his behalf to comply with this condition". GMS doctors are also required "to ensure that no discrimination or differentiation is exercised as between the treatment of eligible and private patients and to take reasonable steps to ensure that no such discrimination is perceived".

To have separate designated visiting times for medical card holders is therefore contrary to the spirit of their GMS contract. Since this stipulation forms part of the contract negotiated between my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation in 1989, that organisation is aware of the specific condition.

If the Deputy is aware of any of the actions mentioned above being perpetrated by GMS doctors, he may forward the details to me and I will be pleased to have the matter referred to the relevant health board for investigation and for appropriate action.