Written Answers Nos. 586-596
586. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding the introduction of universal primary care as promised in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter [42775/12]
View answer587. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he remains committed to the roll out of free general practitioner care; when this legislation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42776/12]
View answer590. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he remains committed to extending free general practitioner care to those under the long term illness scheme; when this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42779/12]
View answer591. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he remains committed to extending free general practitioner care to those under the high tech drugs scheme; when this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42780/12]
View answer641. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the persons and organisations that he has met in respect of the promised legislation to roll out free general practitioner care; when he expects to publish this legislation and to have this scheme operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43033/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 586, 587, 590, 591 and 641 together.
I am committed, as outlined in the Programme for Government, to reforming the current public health system by introducing universal GP care without fees within the first term of office of this Government. The Programme for Government provides for significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal GP care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. Universal GP Care will be achieved on a phased basis. Primary legislation is required to give effect to this commitment.
In July, the Government approved the general scheme of a Bill in accordance with the Programme for Government. Legislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to GP services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by the Attorney General's office in conjunction with this Department and will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.
I am advised that there have been preliminary discussions with my predecessor, Minister Shortall and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard. I expect to engage in further discussions with GPs/IMO as soon as the legislation is published.
588. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he remains committed to the provision of 300 additional frontline posts in the area of primary care; the reason these posts have yet to be announced; when these posts will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42777/12]
View answer589. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he intends for a consortium of general practitioners to employ the additional frontline posts that are needed for the roll out of primary care or if he is still committed to providing these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42778/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 589 together.
The HSE's National Primary Care Office and Health Intelligence Unit has, in recent months, developed a Resource Allocation model, based on deprivation and need. Using this model, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. Based on this analysis, it proposed that the following additional posts be recruited: 70 Public Health Nurses; 37 Registered General Nurses; 51 Occupational Therapists; 46 Physiotherapists; 47 Speech & Language Therapists.
The HSE has sought approval to increase its Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) ceiling to facilitate the recruitment process. Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.
592. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he remains committed to negotiating a new general practitioner contract; the progress made to date in negotiating the new contract in order to ensure the roll out of universal primary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42781/12]
View answer685. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in the introduction of a new General Medical Scheme contract; if this contract will have an emphasis on the management of chronic conditions and a requirement for general practitioners to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary primary care teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43342/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 685 together.
The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams.
My Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. There have been preliminary discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard and I would hope that we will be able to engage in further discussions before long.
593. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the 2007 list of primary care locations drawn up by the Health Service Executive, which was referenced by him in Dáil Éireann on 27 September, was ranked according to priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42783/12]
View answer594. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the 2007 list of primary care locations drawn up by the Health Service Executive which he referenced in Dáil Éireann on 27 September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42784/12]
View answer596. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he made any changes in July to the category under which primary care centres would be funded in relation to the 15 new locations he added to the list; the ones that were changed; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42788/12]
View answer597. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health of the 15 new locations he added to the list of primary care centres in July, if any of these were changed from being privately funded to public private partnership status; which of the 15 were changed to public private partnership status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42789/12]
View answer681. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the 2008 list of locations for primary care centres approved by the Health Service Executive which the he referred to in the Dáil during a private notice question on 3 October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43326/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593, 594, 596, 597 and 681 together.
In 2007 and 2008 the HSE published lists of locations for which the Executive was seeking accommodation. These lists were published in the print media and are, therefore, in the public domain. The locations were not published in any particular order. Those locations were approved by the Board of the HSE. Arrangement is being made for copies of the adverts to issue separately to the Deputy.
The prioritisation exercise is a dynamic process and evolves, taking account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementing the delivery of the centres by the three means i.e. lease, HSE build, and PPP.
It is envisaged that approximately 20 of the 35 potential locations published as part of the Government’s Infrastructure Stimulus Package will be progressed by way of PPP. Some locations will not, therefore, be included in the first phase of the PPP stimulus package and may be progressed by other means. There is nothing to preclude the development of some locations by way of lease (provided by the private sector).
595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has achieved the participation of general practitioners for the proposed new primary care centre in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42787/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
