Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 March 2011
106 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons medical card holders are being charged by general practitioners in respect of certain health issues (details supplied); if this is acceptable under the guidelines of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6295/11]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. Where blood tests form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions, these should be provided free of charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The HSE also points out that, in many GP surgeries, it is the practice nurse who takes blood samples. The HSE significantly subsidises the cost of employing practice nurses. If the HSE is made aware of specific cases where GMS patients are being charged by GP contractors, it will arrange to have such cases investigated as appropriate.
107 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will be issued as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [6304/11]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
