Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2008
262 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the operation of the mid west out of hours Shannondoc general practitioners service in relation to location and accessibility of doctor on duty, hours and days of cover and cost of service for 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35516/08]
View answerOut of hours co-operatives allow general practitioners to put in place arrangements to provide services to their patients, while their surgeries are closed in the evenings, on weekends and bank holidays. The development of GP co-operatives is in line with the overall health service policy of strengthening primary care services and ensuring that to the greatest extent possible, people's care needs are met in the primary care setting.
Out of hours co-operatives are now in place in all Health Service Executive (HSE) areas, providing coverage in all or in part of all counties. In 2007, the HSE Vote included almost €37 million in baseline funding for these services and the Executive has advised that this figure is available again in 2008. This figure does not include the fees of the participating doctors.
As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for this service, it is the appropriate body to provide the information sought by the Deputy. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
