Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

586 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being faced by medical card holders in the Dublin 11 area who find it impossible to get a general practitioner to take them on; the requirements of general practitioners to take on new GMS patients under the terms of their contracts; the procedures in place to ensure an adequate number of general practitioner practices in any one area in order to meet the local demand of medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15872/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Responsibility for the provision of services for medical card holders is, by legislation, a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board or authority. Accordingly, this query has been referred to the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority for investigation and direct reply to the Deputy.

General practitioners may refuse to have a medical card applicant added to their list, or refuse to continue to provide service to a particular patient already on their list, provided they inform the health board of that decision. The GMS contract provides for persons to be assigned by the health board to doctors, for short periods, when the patient has been unable to secure a doctor of choice.