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General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Questions (407, 408)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

407. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the National Association of General Practitioners has secured a negotiating licence, if it will be included in any negotiations or consultations he, his Department or the Health Service Executive will undertake with regard to GP services and contracts, and with specific regard to those under six years of age and those over 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46121/14]

View answer

Billy Kelleher

Question:

408. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in view of the challenges facing rural general practitioners practices and in more deprived urban areas, if the National Association of General Practitioners will be involved in any negotiations or consultations he, his Department or the Health Service Executive will undertake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46122/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together.

Under a Framework Agreement signed on 4th June 2014, the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are engaged intensively on the introduction of GP services without fees for children aged under 6. The Government's aim is to have universal GP care without fees for children under 6 years implemented early next year, subject to the conclusion of the present discussions and the completion of a fee-setting process.

The Government will prioritise persons aged 70 and over in the second phase of the introduction of a universal GP service. This measure will be facilitated under the existing General Medical Services contract after the relevant legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas.

The Framework Agreement also makes provision for discussions to commence on the overall GMS contract while work on the under 6 contract is progressing. The HSE/Department and the IMO have commenced talks on a new GP contract. A priority of these discussions will be the inclusion of issues about the provision of GP services to rural and deprived areas.

Formal engagement on contractual issues is conducted through a process of negotiations with the IMO, which has represented the interests of GPs, as independent contractors, for the past number of decades and which is a party to the current agreement upon which GMS GP contracts are legally founded.

I am open to receiving the views of any interested party in the development of GP services as a key component of the overall health system. In this context, Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Health and I met with the National Association of General Practitioners on 6th November 2014 and there is likely to be further engagement in future.

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