Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
600. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations with general practitioners' representative organisations regarding a new contract (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4531/17]
View answerThe development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.
Previous engagements have resulted in a number of service developments including the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes, an enhanced support framework for rural GPs, and a revised list of special items of service under the contract to encourage the provision of more services in the primary care setting. These measures, combined with the under-6s and over-70s universal GP care initiatives, have increased the financial support for general practice.
The next phase of discussions on a new GP contract is under way and initial meetings with GP representative bodies were held in January. As with any negotiation-type process, and given the range and complexity of the issues to be discussed, the engagement may take some time. While I am of course anxious to see good progress made, it is not my intention to set a deadline for completion of discussions. It would be premature, in advance of substantive progress being made on the development of a new contract, to make statements in relation to funding.
