Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 November 2014
98. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of contracts for service that the Defence Forces has with outside medical practitioners; and if any former members of the Defence Forces are providing, by contract or informal arrangement, such services. [42396/14]
View answerA total of 36 medical practices, including 9 retired military medical officers, provide general practitioner medical services, as required, for military personnel on a contract for services basis at various military installations or, in some instances, at the premises of the medical practice in question.
In addition, a total of 6 medical consultants, including one retired member of the Defence Forces, are engaged, as required, to provide specialist services for military personnel on a contract for services basis.
On a more general level, I should also add that against the background of the difficulty experienced in recruiting doctors to the Defence Forces, it has been necessary to identify alternative options for the provision of medical services to the Defence Forces, including the consideration of the outsourcing of some or all Defence Forces domestic medical services. In this regard, an integrated model for the provision of the required medical services, involving both the Medical Corps and outsourced service provision is being progressed.
