Paul Connaughton
Question:21 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there will be no large scale investment in primary care in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4280/05]
View answerThursday, 10 February 2005
Questions (25, 26, 27)
Tom Hayes
Question:44 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the primary care strategy will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4264/05]
View answer
Pádraic McCormack
Question:106 Mr. McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that by the end of 2005, €12 million out of a projected €1 billion will have been spent on the primary care strategy, half way through the proposed lifespan of this strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4281/05]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 21, 44 and 106 together.
The primary health care strategy, "Primary Care: A New Direction", which was published in 2001, sets out the Government's broad vision for the development of multidisciplinary team based primary health care. The principal objective of the strategy is to strengthen primary care so it can play a more central role as the first and ongoing point of contact for people with the health care system.
In 2005, an additional €5 million in revenue funding has been provided to support the implementation of the strategy, bringing total ongoing additional revenue funding to €12 million per annum. This funding is being provided through a range of initiatives, including an initial ten primary care teams, to progress the implementation of the strategy. To date, capital funding of €2.725 million and a further €1.8 million in respect of information and communications technology supports have also been provided. This funding is, of course, in addition to the substantial funding already in the system for the delivery of a wide range of primary and community care services.
Since 2002, ten multidisciplinary primary care teams have been developed and are delivering an enhanced and expanded range of primary care services to their target populations. The experience of developing these initial teams is already providing valuable learning which will help to inform the wider implementation of the strategy. A significant component of the development of further primary care teams must involve the reorganisation of the staff and resources already within the system. During 2004 detailed work was undertaken by the health boards to map the numbers and locations of future primary care teams and networks.
Since the primary care strategy was published, the Government has also provided significant further support for the development of GP co-ops to provide the benefits of reliable out of hours services to the public and to relieve pressure on hospital accident and emergency departments. Between 2000 and 2005, approximately €105 million has been provided to the statutory agencies for the development of out of hours GP services.
In 2005, an additional €60 million has been provided to improve access to primary care by providing for some 30,000 additional persons to become eligible for a medical card and free access to GP visits for those on low income who do not qualify for a medical card at present. The medical card income guidelines have been increased with effect from 1 January 2005 by approximately 7.5% generally and, in specific regard to children, the income allowance for each of the first two children has been increased by approximately 20% and for the third and subsequent children by approximately 30%.
Free access to general practitioner visits will be provided to individuals and families based on income guidelines 25% over the new medical card income guidelines. It is estimated that approximately 200,000 persons will become eligible for free GP services with the "doctor visit" card. My Department is at present considering the nature of the legislative changes required to enable effect to be given to the decision to introduce these medical cards. Legislation in this regard will be introduced as soon as possible.
These two initiatives will assist in overcoming barriers to accessing GP services in the case of those on low incomes and in the region of 230,000 additional people, including children, will be able to access their general practitioner free of charge.