Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
456. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing practice nurses to work with 25 general practitioners, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period. [30194/18]
View answer457. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing medical secretaries to work with 25 general practitioners, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period. [30195/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs can claim practice support subsidies that contribute towards the cost of employing a practice nurse, manager and/or secretary.
The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the number of years experience the nurse or secretary has. The current full subsidy rates are:
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 1 year’s experience |
€30,945.86 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 2 years’ experience |
€32,665.07 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 3 years’ experience |
€34,384.29 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 4 or more years’ experience |
€37,822.72 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 1 year’s experience |
€20,630.57 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 2 years’ experience |
€22,349.80 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 3 or more years’ experience |
€24,068.99 |
|
Practice manager subsidy (per year) — based on first point in the nursing subsidy |
€30,945.86 |
As GPs are independent private contractors and employ their own practice staff, the terms of the contract of employment are negotiated directly with each employee.
Given the variation in payment rates that may therefore apply to each contract, the Department cannot estimate the cost of employing and training 25 practice nurses or secretaries beyond the payment of the above subsidy rates.
